194 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



described species of that group of the Linnaean genus Acros- 

 tichum, to which Bernhardi gave the name of Gymnopteris, 

 in which he is followed by Presl and Mr. John Smith, a 

 genus characterized by the peculiar venation, shown in our 

 figure 1, and holding the same position in Acrostichum, Linn, 

 that Drymaria, Bory. {Phymatodes, Br.) does in Polypodium. 

 The resemblance of the sterile fronds to the wings of a Bat 

 suggested the specific name : — the fertile fronds are quite 

 different, narrow and lanceolate, with 4 or 5 stout, straight, 

 parallel, primary veins, clothed on the under side, except 

 upon the veins, with pale fulvous-coloured capsules. 

 Fig. 1. Portion of the sterile frond, magnified. 



BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



Lindley's Vegetable Kingdom. 



We change the press at this moment for the purpose of 

 briefly noticing a work of which a copy is in our possession, 

 and of which it is not too much to say that none more im- 

 portant to the student of Botany has ever appeared, for 

 to the proficient in that branch of study, it contains an 

 immense mass of useful information, we mean the " Vegetable 

 Kingdom, or the Structure, Classification and Uses of Plants, 

 illustrated upon the Natural System, with upwards of 500 

 illustrations, by Dr. Lindley." We have not the time, nor is 

 it the object of the present Journal, to enter into a criticism 

 of a work of this kind ; we prefer calling attention to a book 

 of such standard character, and which we are sure must soon 

 be in the hands of every Botanist capable of reading the 

 English language. After an accustomed hit at the unfor- 

 tunate Linnseaus, the author, in an able Preface, dwells 

 upon the vast importance of the Natural System, (of which 

 too much cannot be said in its favour, though the difficulties 

 attending the study of-it, at least upon an extended scale, are 



