BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 27 



iire endowed to resist the severities of the basin climate. Deep rooted in the volcanic 

 ashes of yonder bench glows Opuntiti pulr/tdld, the prettiest of the rVjc-ii family, and 

 that odd little stitf-leaved, crimson 0.r//fh<'ra perfolintd. Under the spiny bushes of 

 Bigelovid r/iutceoleiiH carpeting the wiiole valley, are seen a few plants of Pecfocajvya 

 pe.nirill((t(i strayed away from the coast, and BUtuui caritKitniv, only found before in 

 Australia. 



Recent Pubijcattons. — American Jonnud of Hi'ienee atiil Arin, January Dr. 

 Gray gives a review of Darwin's late work on "Tiie Ditlerent Forms of Flowers ou 

 Plants of the same Species." This pajn-r came to hand most aptly just as we had fin- 

 ished reading the book. Dr. Gray, of course, does not mention thai the wnj-k was dedi- 

 cated to him, but so it is, and we are glad of it, for it is a deserved compliment. It was 

 refreshing to see all through the book the notice that was taken of American botanists, 

 fir it is a sign that they are not ali completely absoreil in Systematic Botany, which, in 

 a country comparatively new, very justly has a controlling interest, but are beginning 

 to study life histories. Dr. Gray adds another genus and natural order to the list of 

 cleistogamous flowers. Mr. C. G. Pringle, of Charlotte, Vermont, has found excellent 

 examples of cleistogamous flowers \r\ DuUhnri'ii rcpnix, i>\' tlie onXav Rosucea'. 3[r. 

 Pringle also announces the discovery of cleistogamou.s fiowers regularly occurring 

 within the leaf-sheaiths of Banthnnla npimta and its allies, also in Vilfa and other 

 grasses. Mr. Darwin adopts Hildebrand's term of hderosti/led, instead of lieterogone or 

 ftrfcroffu/iouii suggested b\- Dr. Gray. The first six chapters "relate to di-morphous blos- 

 soms, such as those of Primrose and IfoNstonia, including also tlie trimorphic cases, as 

 of Lf/fhriim Sdlicarin and some species of O.uilia. The seventh chajiter discusses Poly- 

 gamous, Dioecious, and Gyuo-Dicecious Plants; the eighth and closing chapter is devo- 

 ted to Cleistogamous Flowers." 



American Naturalist, January. — The l)Otauical notes are "Notes on the Alpine 

 Flora of Mt. Shasta," and "Production of Ajiples in 'olP Years/' both by Dr. A.S. 

 Packard. The Xaturalist comes for the first time from Phildelphia, from the press of 

 ]\IcC;alla & Staveley. The press work is as fine, if not finer than ever, and under' the 

 editorial management of Dr. A. S. Packard, Jr., and Prof. E. D. Cope, it promises to its 

 patrons everytliing needed in a journal devoted to Xatural ScicJices. In looking over 

 the diltcrent departments, we see them all in the hands of specialists except Botany. 

 It is haiii, even for a journal devoted to iiatui-al sciences in their widest sensf, not to be- 

 come bpecial in its tendency. It would re([uire wonderful skill and selt-denial for two 

 such eminet Zoologists as Dr. Packard and Prot. Cojx' not to throw the weight of their 

 favor on the side of Zoology. We art; not decrying Zoology, for next to Botany it has a 

 warmer jdace in our afi'ections than anything else, but we are asking for a fair represen- 

 tation. 



Bulletin of the Turret/ Botanical Clnh, November, December and January. — The 

 November number is filled by a contribution from Francis Wolle. He gives a list of 

 Fresh Water Alg*, the work of the past twelve months. It contains loO forms new to 

 the United States and 24 new to science. Two new genera also are described. In the 

 December No. a new species of Danthoiiia is described by C. F. Au.stin, and named for 

 its discoverer, D. Faxoni. Tlie species is allied to I), xpicatn, and was found at the 

 Notch of the White ]\Its., N. H. Mr. Daveniiorl describes a new (f/ieilanthes found in 

 California, and names it C. vincida. Tlie species seems intermediate between C. vestita 

 and C. C'ooperep and will be figured in an early number of the "Illustrations of tlie 

 Ferns of North America." In the Januaiy number we note Mr. Geo. E. Davenport's 

 valuable contriution on "Vernation in Botrychia, with special reference to its import- 

 ance as a means for distinguishing the dift'erent species." The different species of 

 Botrychiuni have so long been puzzles to botanists that Mr. Davenport has tried to 



