Floristik u. Systematik der Phanerogamen. — Agricultur etc. 669 



round Mt. Koscinsko^ etc. The six excellent photographs convert a 

 good idea of the region. The physical and climatic features of the higher 

 plateaux are distinctly alpine. Much of the soil is of volcanic origin 

 and rieh. During midsummer (February), there is a rieh Vegetation of 

 grasses, herbaceous plants, and dwarf shrubs ; a marked contrast to the 

 lowlands, which at this season are parched. The region affords excellent 

 Summer pasturage, but during many months of the year sudden changes 

 of climate occur, and snow frequently falls to a depth of 12 feet and forms 

 rudimentary glaciers. Eucalyptus forests Cover much of the sub-alpine 

 levels, and stunted E. Gunnii, E. stelhilata, and E. pauciflora occur up 

 to 2000 m. on northern slopes. Of the 1019 species of plants collected 

 above 600 m., 678 are Phanerogams (249 genera) and 341 are Crypto- 

 gams (161 genera)^ but the latter are stated to be still incompletely 

 known. The total number of species found is about one-tenth of the 

 plants peculiar to, or indigenous in Australia. The greatest number 

 of species of Phanerogams above 1500 m. belong to Compositae (28), 

 Gramineae (22), and Leguminosae (19); the Rutaceae (11), Epacrideae {9), 

 Myrtaceae {8), Scrophularineae {!), Ranunculaceae (7), Caryophylleae (7), 

 Proteaceae (7), Cyperaceae (7), and Umbelliferae (6) come next in order. 

 In regard to the affinities of the flora, it is stated: „On the whole there 

 is a greater affinity with the Tasmanian alpine flora than with that 

 Ol any other region"; an analytical table is given to show this. A com- 

 plete list of the plants (46 pages) is given^ with their ränge in other parts 

 of Australia, and there is a series of notes (20 pages) on noteworthy 

 features of the natural Orders, those most characteristic of the area being 

 dealt with at some length. W. G. Smith (Leeds). 



Willis, J. C, AManual andDictionaryoftheFlowering 



Plants and Ferns. Second Edition, revised and 



rearranged in one volume. Cambridge: at the 



University Press. 1904. p. I— XII and 1—670. Price: 



10 s. 6d nett. 



A second edition of this useful book is very much to be welcomed^ 

 especially when it contains such extensive improvements as in the pre- 

 sent case. A great part of the introductory volume (now embodied in 

 one with the second volume, p. 1 — 208) has been rearranged and certain 

 parts „not intended for consecutive reading" have been printed in smaller 

 type. A very important and useful addition to the introduction is the 

 matter contained in the latter half of the opening chapter (hints on out- 

 fit, collecting and preserving material and on general field work). The 

 chapters on morphology, ecology and geographical distribution have also 

 received extensive alterations and additions, whilst the value of the in- 

 dex has been considerably increased by the addition of a large number 

 of technical terms and of the commoner specific names with their engiish 

 meanings. A number of instructive diagrams are present in the book, 

 as a well as a map (after Drude), showing the floral regions of the 

 World which were not included in the first edition. The second and main 

 part of the book as before takes the form of a dictionary with very füll 

 and comprehensive descriptions. In its present form the book should 

 prove exceedingly useful to every botanist^ both engiish and foreign. 



F. E. Fritsch. 



Elofson, A., Redogörelseför verksamheten vidSve- 

 riges Utsädesförenings Filial vid Ultuna 19 02. 

 (Bericht über die Thätigkeit an der Filiale des 

 Schwedischen Saatzuchtvereins bei Ultuna im 

 fahre 1902.) (Sveriges Utsädesförenings Tidsskrift. 1903. 

 H. 4. p 197—210. Malmö 1904.) 



