Floristik, Geographie, Systematik etc. 21 



bushes, mingled with reeds and other herbs, mostly perennials. In 

 some places the thickets must be regarded as real forests. 



The growth-forms are dealt jwith in tvvo chapters. In the first 

 place, all the species known from the area are enumerated, and 

 their growth-form (after Raunkiaer) and flowering time are given. 

 A summary of the species and growth-forms gives the result that 

 out of 768 species 11 p. ct. are Fanerophytes (having their survi- 

 ving buds in the air), 7 p. ct. Chamaephytes (surviving buds on the 

 earths surface), 27 p. ct. Hemicryptophytes (buds in the earths crust), 

 9 p. ct. Geophytes, 5 p. ct. Helo- and Hydrophytes (surviving buds 

 in the earth or under w^ater), and 41 p. ct. Therophytes (annuals)*). 

 By comparison v^rith such "biological spectra" from other countries 

 it is show^n that there is a near biological relation between the 

 Transcaspian deserts and the eastern Mediterranean countries as 

 well as with the deserts in Western North America: all of 

 them are mainly characterised by Therophytes. On the other band , 

 going from Transcaspia northwards or upwards into the moun- 

 tains, the Therophytes decrease, while the Hemicryptophytes in- 

 crease in number. 



Of the growth-forms the mesophytic spring-aspect includes most 

 of the Hemicryptophytes, Geophytes and Therophytes, while espe- 

 cially all the Fanerophytes and Chamaephytes belong to the xero- 

 phytic summer-aspect. 



As to the flowering season, only 16 p. ct. of all the species 

 flower in July or later. For the annuals a statistic is given showing 

 that the number of late-flowering annuals increase northwards, from 

 21 p. ct. Transcaspia to 80 p. ct. Denmark. 



In a special chapter the growth-forms are described, and espe- 

 cially trees and bushes (Fanerophytes) have been dealt with at some 

 length. They show some characteristics: thus the year-shoots are 

 branched except in a very few cases, the branches being very often 

 annual assimilating shoots, which biologically play the part of leaves. 

 Furthermore the 5'ear-shoot itself does not as a rule persist throughout 

 its whole length, but the outer part dies, remaining next year as a 

 dead stick or a thorn. 



The fruits are in the great majority of cases such as may be 

 easily transported by the wind. 



A considerable number of plants belonging to different growth- 

 forms has been examined with regard to morphology and anatomy, 

 showing a great variety of characteristic features which may be 

 formulated under three heads: 1. The difficulty attending the de- 

 velopment of long-lived aerial shaots. 2. Reduction of the leaves. 3. 

 The frequency of the centric type of assimilating organs and of 

 isolateral leaves. 



A concluding chapter deals with the Clements of the flora. Sta- 

 tistics show that the Transcaspian lowlands in their floristic aspects 

 are more closely related to the countries towards the South. As 

 pointed out above, the biological relation was also greater to the 

 countries towards the South. Ove Paulsen. 



Petpie, D., Descriptions ofNew Native Species ofPha- 

 nerogams. (Trans. New Zeal. Inst. XLIV. p. 179—187. 1912.) 



The foUowing nevv species are recorded: 



•) Comp. Bot. Centralbl. Vol. in, p. 4I. 



