70 Floristik, Geographie, Systematik etc. 



Balfour, J. B. et W. W. Smith. Beesia, a new genus of Ra- 

 nunculaceae from Burma and Yunnan. (Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. 

 Edinburgh. IX. 41. p. 63-64. 1 pl. 1915.) 



The new genus which is illustrated by a reproduction of a pho- 

 tograph of one of the types differs from Hydrastis and Glaucidiuni 

 in the leaves being all radical, cordate and crenate, in the race- 

 mose inflorescence and the solitary carpels. 



Only one species is known: B. cordata Balf. f. et W. W. Smith. 



W. G. Craib (Edinburgh). 



Black, J. M., Scientific Notes ofan Expedition into the 

 Interior ofAustralia. K. Botany. (Trans. & Proc. Roy. Soc. 

 South Australia. XXXVIII. p. 460—471. PI. XXXVIII & XXXIX. 

 Dec. 1914.) 



The botanical notes of a Natural History Expedition into the 

 interior of Australia carried out by Captain S. A. White are 

 summarized by J. M. Black. A list of species with notes on habitat 

 is given and the following nov^elties described and figured: Brassia 

 inchoata, Trichiniutn Whitei, Eremophila neglecta. E. M. Cotton. 



Blake, S. F., Four new H et er o Spermas. (Journ. Bot. LIII. p. 322 — 

 324. Nov. 1915.) 



Heterospernia achaetum from Columbia, ^. oz;a/^ from Santo 

 Domingo, H. spathulatum from Ecuador and H. trilohnm from 

 Santo Dominoro are described. E. M. Cotton. 



Bolus, L., Notes on Imperfectlv known species. (Ann. Bolus 

 Herb. I. 3. p. 133. Oct. 1915.) 



The two species commented on are Pliimhago tristis, Act., and 

 Holuhia saccata, Oliver. E. M. Cotton. 



Bolus, L., Notes on Lessertia with descriptions ofsix new 

 species and a key. (Ann. Bolus Herb. I. 3. p. 87—96. Oct. 1915.) 



The following are the additions to this genus: L. perennans, 

 DC. var. sericea, nov. var., L. Harveyana, L. Flanaganii, L. Dykei, 

 L. globosa, L. Thodei^ L. Kensitii. E. M. Cotton. 



Dunlop, W. R., The poisonous forms oi Phaseolus lunatus. 

 (West Indian Bull. XV. p. 29—35. 1915.) 



The Lima Bean {Phaseolus lunatus) is the origin of many diffe- 

 rent kinds of tropical beans some of which are edible, others poi- 

 sonous. The poisonous principle is prussic acid and although the 

 production of this Compound in seeds from cyanogenetic glucosides 

 has been carefully investigated our knowledge is not complete enough 

 to allow of the Statement that there is a definite coincidence between 

 the presence of the poison and the colour nor are chemical facts 

 sufficient to show whether the glucoside may not occur without 

 the ferment in some cases, and vice versa. It is not considered 

 likely that the soil has an}'^ fundamental influence upon the poison 

 content or colour of the beans. Up to the present two facts may 



