68 ERYTHEA. 



demur if it is Mr. Howell's idea that these species have each "one 

 constant character." Delphinum leucophxwn, it may be exam pled, 

 is not distinguishable in any satisfactory way from D. Columbianum, 

 and it is only a combination of characters which helps much in the 

 end anyway. It might be said, in addition, that this failure to sec- 

 tion the species will not make easy the work of determining — and 

 local floras find sale because the residents of a region desire some 

 means of finding out the names of the plants which grow about 

 them. 



It may be noted that for Myosurus sessilis "an alkaline flat" near 

 Arlington, Oregon, is cited as "the only known locality." What 

 seems to be the same occurs in alkaline spots near Vacaville, Cali- 

 fornia. I have been privileged with a plant of the type material 

 from the Gray Herbarium, and the Californian and Oregon plants 

 are found to correspond. 



It is evident from a perusal of the pages that Mr. Howell's work 

 is cyclopedic rather than critical. What he has done has been to 

 bring together in a usable form, in the light of his field knowledge 

 (and no other botanist knows so well the plants of these states) all 

 that has been published concerning the floi-a of the region. But it 

 should, of course, be added that very many diagnoses are his in 

 whole or in part, and that his personal observations color the com- 

 pleted product. Even so much is a task of no small magnitude. 

 The author has not spoken of difficulties, but difficulties must have 

 been many in a region in which library and herbarium facilities are 

 meager. Mr. Howell, therefore, deserves no small meed of praise 

 for the courage and resolution necessary in the face of such circum- 

 stances, and we trust that he may finish his volume within the limit 

 of the period contemplated — that is, by the end of the present year. 

 — W. L. J. 



Ueber den Flechtentrihus der Rocellei. O. V. Darbishire. 

 Berichte d. deutschen Botan. Gesell, 15, 1-15, PI. 1, 1897. 



The Rocellei form a small tribe of lichens recently removed from 

 the Parmeliacei to the Graphidacei by Reinke. Dr. Darbishire has 

 increased the number of genera from three to eight, using, particu- 

 larly, characters drawn from the color of the hypothecium. Of the 



