CURRENT BOTANICAL LITERATURE. 



99 



distributed in tropical regions. In the United States there are 

 about 150 species, representing 44 genera. Nearly all tropical 

 orchids are epiphytic, while in temperate regions they are terres- 

 trial, the soil around iheir roots protecting them from the extreme 

 cold of winter. As a rule terrestrial orchids have thin leaves, 

 for their water supply is not so limited as is the case with epi- 

 phytic orchids. 



NEWS ITEMS. 



]\Irs. A. A. Anderson has given $100,000 to Barnard College, 

 Columbia University, toward the establishment of a course in 

 science leading to the degree of bachelor of science. 



The published accounts indicate that the meeting of the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science in South Africa last 

 summer was a very successful and enjoyable one. Of our own 

 botanists only one, Professor D. H. Campbell, of Stanford Uni- 

 versity, was present. 



Of the special features of botanical interest was an exhibit of 

 living South Africa plants, consisting particularly of '' desert 

 forms from the Karrvo and a characteristic collection of heather 

 and other flowers from the southwest district of Cape Colony." 

 The interest of the exhibit was extended by a number of photo- 

 graphs, made by Dr. Alarlott, illustrating the ecology of Cape 

 Colony. From verbal accounts we judge that the value of this 

 exhibit was very great to the foreigners, especially to American 

 visitors who had acquaintance with the appearance of our North 

 American desert flowers. 



The two elements which, naturally, give a characteristic appear- 

 ance to the desert vegetation of South Africa are the fleshy 

 euphorbias and the aloes, paralleling the cacti and agaves of 

 North America. These, together with the forms of erosion 

 found in certain areas, produce a general similarity to certain 

 parts of our western country which is most striking. 



One of the plants of Africa which every botanist knows some- 

 thing about is the remarkable IVehwifschia. We note with 

 pleasure that Professor Pearson, of the Botanical Department of 



