Pteridophyten. — Floristik etc. 121 



studied the ferns. He publishes notes on their distribution, habitats 

 and characteristics, and describes the foUowing novelties: Asplenium 

 bulhiferum Forst, var. Ho'weammi Watts var. nov., and Polystichum 

 Kingii Watts sp. nov. A. Gepp. 



Arnes, O., Notes on Philippine Orchids with descriptions 

 ofnew species, IV. (Philipp Journ. Sei. C. Bot. VII. p. 1—27. 

 Apr. 1912.) 



Contains as new Habenaria Curranii, H. Mearnsü, H. Robinsonii, 

 H. rosiilata, Tropidia calcarata, Oberonia bengnetensis , O. hispidula, 

 O. Merrüli, O. seiigera, Phaitis linearifoliiis, Calanthe lacerata, C. 

 Rarnosiij Eiilophia Vanoverberghii, Dendrobiuni albayense, D basi- 

 lanense, D. Clemeusiae, D. Mac-Gregorii, D. Raniosii, Eria Vauover- 

 berghii, Phreatia infiindibuüformis, P. Mearnsü, P. Raniosii, P. 

 Vanoverberghii, Bidbophyllnm lancipetahmi , B. Ramosii, Dendro- 

 chiliim longibidbum and D. Vanoverberghii. Trelease. 



Andrews, E. C, The de velopment of th e Natural Order 

 Myrtaceae. (Linn. Soc. X. S. Wales Äbstr.Proc. p.3— 4. Sept. 24th 1913.) 



The Myrtaceae are widely distributed over the tropical and 

 subtropical regions of the world, particularl}' in the fertile tropics. 

 The number of species is approximately 3,100 (America, 1,670; 

 Australia, about 800; Asia, about 235^ Africa, 85; Malay Ar- 

 chipelago and Pacific Islands, 310 species; Europe only 1). 

 ßy far the greater number of these are of luxuriant types, posses- 

 sing flesh}" and indehiscent fruits. The capsular genera are endemic 

 in Australasia and the neighbouring regions, and the majority 

 of the species grow on poor sandy soil, and are strikingly depau- 

 perate in nature, compared with the widelyspread genera, such as 

 the Myrtles, Guavas, and Eugenias. The Cretaceous geographj^ con- 

 sisted, in the main, of low-lying plains of erosion, wide epiconti- 

 nental seas, and a generally mild and genial climate extending far 

 towards the poles; while the present-daj- geography consists of high 

 mountains, large continents, great deserts, glaciated poles, small 

 epicontinental seas, and a marked development of climatic zones. 

 The angiospermous flora of the Cretaceous shows a marked absence 

 Ol depauperate forms. During the general diÖerentiation of climate, 

 in Post-Cretaceous time, the ränge of the megathermic Myrtaceae 

 became much restricted, and a general retreat was made towards 

 the Equator. On the poor sandj- soil of Australia, the capsular 

 Myrtaceae arose as a direct response to their relative^ harsh sur- 

 roundings; and in Tertiary and Post-Tertiary time, while Australia 

 was cut off from communication with the outer world, except by 

 way of Antarctica, the 3'ounger types diverged continually, with 

 respect to the generalised type of the fertile tropics. The endemic 

 Myrtaceae of Australia, in the main, are depauperate rather than 

 truly xerophytic. In any case, they avoid the desert. The divergence 

 of opinion between Ettingshausen and the writer ma}^ be seen 

 in the fact that, whereas the former considered the modern endemic 

 flora of Australia as being of cosmopolitan ränge in early and 

 later Tertiary time, the latter considers the present endemic flora 

 of Australia as being the depauperate descendants of luxuriant 

 and cosmopolitan types of the Cretaceous and Eocene periods. 



Author's abstract. 



