"282 Floristik, Geographie, Systematik etc. 



The effect of the Glacial period on the flora of Europe as 

 compared with that of temperate N. America is considered and 

 the larger wood}'- element in the latter is accounted for. The her- 

 baceous element in the various insular floras is critically considered 

 and also the question of endemic plants as criteria of antiquity. In 

 the peculiar flora of oceanic and Continental islands the mostancient 

 element is entirely woody, the most recent is undoubtedly herba- 

 ceous. Their floras are isolated vestiges of a very ancient Vegetation 

 which possessed very few herbaceous Dicotyledons. 



The majority of herbaceous plants originated in the Continental 

 area of the north temperate zone and from thence invaded the 

 Antipodes along the Himalayas, the An des and the African 

 highlands. The chief (though not the only) factor in the evolution 

 of herbs is the progressive differentiation and refrigeration of Climate 

 in the N. and S. temperate zones, and since herbaceous plants are 

 adapted to adverse conditions they are hardy, aggressive and suc- 

 cessful invaders. E. de Fraine. 



Trelease, W., Un nouveau Phoradendron. (Annuaire du Conser- 

 vatoire et du Jard. bot. Geneve. XV et XVI. p. 351. Paru le 8 

 mai 1915.) 



Description latine du Phoradendron Briqnetianum Trelease sp. 

 nov., originaire de Bogota (Colombie) et conserve ä l'herbier De- 

 lessert. G. Beauverd. 



Wernham, H- F., A monograph of the Genus Sabicea. (Brit. 

 Mus. p. 82. 12 pl. London, 1914.) 



For the purposes of this monograph, the material of the genus 

 Sabicea contained in the principal European Herbaria has been exa- 

 mined, one result being the addition of 62 species to the 44 already 

 known. In the introduction, the geographical distribution is first 

 discussed and summarised in tabular form. Then, having enumerated 

 the constant and critical characters which determine the genus, 

 the author proceeds to suggest the possible lines along v^hich evo- 

 lution has operated within the genus. It is divided into four groups, 

 based on the inflorescence, viz. Laxae, Sessiles, Capitatae and Flo- 

 ribmidae. The first of these, i.e. the open c3'-me type is believed to 

 represent ihe primitive State of things, from which the sessile type 

 (Sesstles) and definite involucrate head type (Capitatae) are derived 

 along two di verging lines, while the Floribiindae, with a diffuse and 

 Compound inflorescence represent a third type of advancement on 

 the primitive Laxae. This is analogous to the Compositae — the most 

 advanced and successful group of flowering plants — where aggre- 

 gation into heads or rather economy in production reaches its 

 highest development. Phylogenetic trees are given showing the 

 relationship of the various groups to allied genera and also the 

 affinities of the species inter se. 



The foUowing is a list of the new species and combinations: 

 Sabicea iimbrosa, S. stipularioides, S. Urba)iia'na , S. Hierftiana, S. 

 panamensis, S. aspenila, S. costaricensis, S. parai'usis (= 5. wnbel- 

 lata, Fers. var. paraensis, K. Schum.), S. laxa, S. entebbensis, S. mollis, 

 K. Schum. M. S. (= S. venosa, Benth. var. villosa K. Schum.), 5. 

 Orientalis, S. camer oonensis, S. pseiidocapitellata , S. Sniithii, S. erecta 

 Rusby M. S., S. seliloba, S. boliviensis, S. Pearcei, S. sitbinvolncrata , 

 S. Moorei, S. coloinbiaiia, S. illexicana, S. DeiciJdemaniatia , S. ajigo- 



