190 Recent Literature. [zoe 



Professor Trelease adopts, in accordance with Mr. Baker's views, 

 the name, " Hesperoyucca " ioxYticca Whipplei, which he separates 

 as a generic type. The article is accompanied by many excel- 

 lent plates. 



North American Silenece and Polycarpece. By B. L. Robinson. 

 Being the fifth of the new series of Contributions from the Gray 

 Herbarium. This tentative revision is preliminary to treatment 

 of the Caryophyllaceae in the Synoptical Flora and its object is 

 stated to be "chiefly to secure aid through criticisms, and to 

 call attention to such species, especially in the genera SUene and 

 Lychnis as are still imperfectly known, so that if possible more 

 complete material of them may be secured before final 

 revision." The author evidently doubts the validity of certain 

 accepted species of Silene and his remarks upon the distortion of 

 the flowers of the type of Silene Lyalli by a well-known fungus 

 are very suggestive. One new species of Lychnis, L. Taylorcs, 

 and two of Silene, 5*. Watsoni (changed from Lychnis Californicd) 

 and ►S. scaposa are proposed. S. simtdans is reduced to ^S. laciniata, 

 S. inco?npta to ^. Bridgesii, S. plicata to S. Tliurberi, S. Shockleyi 

 to 5*. mo7ita)ia, S. Maconnii & S. monantha to varieties of kS". 

 Douglasii; S. purpurea is admitted " but not seen by the author." 

 With the treatment of Loeflingia we do not agree and hope that 

 fuller material will convince the author that there are not three 

 American species. The appearance of a revision of the remain- 

 ing genera is awaited with much interest, and from Dr. Robin- 

 son's opportunities and well-known conscientiousness in research 

 it cannot fail to be valuable. 



Contributions from the Herbarium of Columbia College, No. 

 J5. An Emtme7'ation of the Plants collected by Dr. Thomas Morong 

 in Paraguay, i888-i8go. By Thomas Morong and N. I,. 

 Britton, with the assistance of Miss Anna Murray Vail. 

 Reprinted from Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 

 vol. vii. The paper is of much consequence to the flora of 

 South America. It has the interest which always attaches to 

 botanical papers where the author has been at once collector and 

 tvriter. 



Forest Influences — Bulletin No. 7 of the Forestry Division, U. 



