S4^ Bibliographical Notices. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



Prodromus Floi'ce BatavcB. Vol. I. Plantce Vasciilares. In socio- 

 rum imprimis iisum edendum curavit Societas promovendo Flone 

 Batavice studio. Sumptibus Societatis, 1850. 



This work, which has only recently reached us, may be described as 

 an extension of Koch's * Synopsis Fl. Germanicse ' to the coast of 

 Holland, and is very acceptable from the slightness of our previous 

 knowledge of the native plants of the Dutch provinces. The present 

 does not pretend to be more than a first attempt at a flora of those 

 countries, but it is one which, notwithstanding its modest pretensions, 

 will be of much value to the botanical geographer, and may be con- 

 sulted with advantage by those who desire the completion of the 

 catalogue of the British flora, since it will show what species may be 

 expected to occur in our eastern counties as being frequent inhabitants 

 of the neighbouring part of the continent. The number of these is 

 not very considerable, and the following are perhaps those which are 

 the most likely to reward a careful examination of the coasts of Nor- 

 folk and Sufl^olk, and the interesting sandy district of the interior of 

 those counties. 



Ranunculus ololeucos. Elatine triandra. 



Baudoti. Myosotis striata. 



polyanthemos. Verbascum phlomoides. 



Eranthis hyemalis (as a true Veronica latifolia. 



native). longifoha. 



Nigella arvensis. praecox. 



Braya supina. opaca. 



Erucastrum Pollichii. 



Others might be mentioned, especially from amongst the Gramitiece 

 and CyperacecB, but these will suffice. 



We observe, that our author (for it appears to be almost certain 

 that Dr. R. B. van den Bosch is the chief, if not sole author of this 

 book) distinguishes a few plants as species which British botanists are 

 accustomed to rank only as varieties. In some cases we believe that 

 he is correct, but in others cannot concur with him. As examples 

 we may instance the following : — 



Ranunculus trichophyllus is separated from R. heterophyllus (the 

 typical R. aqaatilis), as we believe quite correctly, although we have 

 not as yet found a good paper-character by which to distinguish them. 

 Indeed, it seems probable that there is even a third species, the Ba- 

 trachium peltatum of Fries, not Schrank, confounded under the name 

 of ^. aquatilis. The Arabis hirsuta is split into three species, A. 

 Gerardi and A. sagittata being separated from it. In this we can- 

 not concur, as we have not been able to see either habit or cha- 

 racter by which to distinguish them. 



The same remark may be made concerning Montia m,inor and M. 

 rivularis. 



Chrysanthemum maritimum is considered by our author to be quite 

 distinct from C. inodorum, and characterized by its leaves having short 



