. . , Bo on REVIE WS . , . 



Flora of the Upper Susquehanna and Its Tributaries. By Willard 

 Nelson Clute. Binghamton, N. Y., Willard N. Clute & Co. 



This neat little volume is the latest addition to the numerous local 

 floras covering various portions of New York that have appeared 

 within recent years. Probably there exists no other region in the 

 State of more interest to the student of ecology than this valley of 

 the Upper Susquehanna, for it affords some striking instances of 

 northward extension in several typical southern species. It is this 

 circumstance which lends a peculiar interest to all local floras whose 

 areas fall near the boundary line between two distinct life zones, in- 

 vesting them with more than a mere local value. 



It is pleasing to note that the nomenclature of this volume fol- 

 lows modern lines, the equivalent names of Gray's Manual being 

 cited in parenthesis for the sake of convenience. At the present rate 

 of progress, we may fairly hope that within a short period the neces- 

 sity for introducing this cumbrous list of synonyms into our floras 

 will be obviated. It is, however, a matter for regret that Mr. Clute 

 has seen fit to follow that antiquated sequence of families which drops 

 one unexpectedly into the midst of the Choripetalse, leading him up 

 through the higher Gamopetalae only to permit an abrupt descent to 

 the lowest of the Monocotyledons. The explanation for this course 

 given in the introduction is that the arrangement followed, coinciding 

 as it does with that of Gray's Manual, is the one most familiar to 

 those who will have most use for the book. But if modern nomen- 

 clature is to be used, why not also modern taxonomy ? Surely the 

 one is as familiar to local botanists as the other. 



The general appearance and typography of the book are excellent, 

 localities and authorities being clearly given, while the appended de- 

 scriptive comments will doubtless be found useful to students of the 

 region. In the introduction is given a comparison with related floras, 

 a full discussion of the geology and geography of the area, and a 

 most interesting list of noteworthy sub-localities. It occurs to us 

 that a careful study of the collections made in the Upper Susque- 

 hanna might considerably increase the number of included species, 

 as thi author has evidently pursued a most conservative course 

 in this respect. It seems difficult to believe that such genera as 

 Sanicula, Agrimonia and the like are represented each by only a 

 single species, while among the violets it is probable that V. ovata 

 occurs in that range, if not also V. cuiarginata. — C. L. P. 



