SHORT ARTICLES. 17 



Rattan, Teacher of Botany in the California State Normal 

 School. [The Whitaker & Ray Co., San Francisco, 1897.] 



This book of one hundred and twenty pages is the first 

 elementary text of the kind designed especially for the Paci- 

 fic Coast and is a modified extension of the "Introductory 

 Lessons in Structural Botany" which prefaced the various 

 editions of the author's " Popular Californian Flora." The 

 figures have been increased in number and all, save one, are 

 from original drawings. The illustrative material is very 

 largely derived from indigenous species, and a considerable 

 number of new facts, particularly concerning seedlings of 

 Californian plants are, for the first time, described and illus- 

 trated. The curious germination of Marah or Big Root is 

 quite fully discussed. As is well known the caulicle and 

 plumule are buried four or five inches deep by means of the 

 united petioles of the cotyledons, which elongate. Root-hairs 

 are often abundantly produced at the summit of the united 

 petioles and there attach themselves to the surface crust; 

 this is said to aid the vertical penetration of the caulicle and 

 it is an interesting fact, although not so very clearly stated, that 

 the seed will germinate successfully even if lying on the surface 

 of the ground. The germination of Convolvulus subacaulis, 

 which is similar to that of Delphinium cardinalis, is also 

 illustrated, as is the behavior of Paeonia Brownii. 



As a record of some original observations the book appeals to 

 us as being more successful than viewed as a school 

 book, yet on the first account alone it is worthy of place in 

 our school libraries. — W. L. J. 



SHORT ARTICLES. 



Introduced Plants In Calaveras Co., Calif. — The 

 following notes were made on a walking trip from Milton 

 to the Calaveras Sequoia-grove, and back to Valley Springs, 

 between May 18th and 30th, 1895. 



Er odium Botrys occurs beside the stage-road between 

 Milton and Salt Spring Valley, together with Melilotus 



