390 Floristik, Geographie, Systematik etc. 



Mag n in, A., Additions et corrections au Prodrome des 

 botanistes lyonnais. le et 2e Serie s. (Ann. Soc. Bot. Lvon. 

 XXXII. p. 103—141. 1907. XXXV. p. 13—80. 1910.) 



Ces deux series d'Additions forment un Supplement important 

 au Prodrome d'une histoire des botanistes lyonnais, publie 

 par Magnin en 1906 et 1907 (Cf. Bot. Centr. Bd. 104, p. 401). De 

 nombreux renseignements historiques, biographiques et bibliographi- 

 ques, environ 200 noms de botanistes et d'institutions, qui ne figu- 

 raint pas dans le Prodrome, representent les nouveaux documents 

 que l'auteur a reunis pendant ces dernieres annees, en vue de la 

 prochaine publication du grand ouvrage, auquel il travaille depuis 

 longtemps. J. Offner. 



Marloth, R., Further observations on the Biolog}'' of 

 Roridula, L. (Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Africa. IL 1. p. 59—62. 1910.) 



The systematic position of this genus has ]ed to controversy, 

 and the author describes experiments, supplementary to earlier 

 ones, which confirm that the viscid secretion from the leaves does 

 not possess digestive properties and that Roridula is not insectivo- 

 rous. From observations made on the growing plants in their native 

 habitat, he finds that the fluid excreted from the leaves is different 

 from that of Drosera in that it does not mix with water, it has no 

 acid reaction , it readily absorbs iodine and turns deep 3^ellow, it 

 is stained red with alkannin; these reactions indicate that the fluid 

 is a kind of baisam. The glands also differ from those of Drosera 

 when tested with egg-albumen, etc. The viscid fluid is regarded as 

 a protection against creeping insects, etc., which are not digested 

 but are captured by certain spiders (Synoema marlothi) which 

 inhabit Roridula and can move freely over the plant. Roridula and 

 Biblis are placed in a separate group, Roridulaceae , which should 

 be placed near Saxifragaceae and Pittosporaceae. W. G. Smith. 



Marloth, R., Some new South African Succulents. Part 

 III. (Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Africa, IL 1. p. 33-39. 1 pl. 1910.) 



Descriptions of the following new species, with illustrations. 

 Cotyledon nana, sp. nov., Mesembrianthemum deserticolum , sp. nov., 

 M. Marlothii Pax (amended description), M. Namibense, sp. nov., M. 

 mitratum, sp. nov., Euphorbia gregaria, sp. nov., E. elastica, sp. nov., 

 E. hypogaea, sp. nov., E. fusca, sp. nov., Othonna clavifolia, sp. 

 nov., Haworthia granulata, sp. nov. W. G. Smith. 



Marloth, R., The Vegetation of the Southern Namib. 

 (South African Journ. Sei. VI. 3. p. 80—87. 2 figs. 1910.) 



The "Namib" is now regarded as including the whole coastal 

 belt from the Cunene to the Orange River, with a narrow 

 southward extension along the coast of Little Namaqualand 

 from Orange River to Olifant's River. The whole area is simular 

 in topography with a low rainfall (2—4 cm. app.). The present paper 

 deals with the portion traversed by the 27 th degree of latitude, 

 where the Namib Stretches about 50 miles from the sea to the 

 escarpment of the highlands of Aus and Kubub. Although the 

 Namib is a waterless desert with few places where fresh water is 



