NEW PUBLICATIONS. 47 



cern tliemselves with descriptions of the species met with, anil make 

 their books a vehicle for critical observations on synonymy, distinctive 

 characters, and relationships. 



The ' Elore de France' of MM. Grenier and Godron was published 

 in the years 1848-56, and is well known as the best general descrip- 

 tive work on the flora of the country. When in 1865* the first part of 

 the book under notice appeared, it was evident that its value lay more 

 in being a supplement or appendix to the earlier work, than as an ex- 

 position of the phyto-geography of the Jura range, which indeed Jiad 

 been thoroughly examined in M. Thurmann's ' Essai de Phytostatique,' 

 published in 1849. 



The first part (pp. 346) contains the polypetalous Orders (Dialype- 

 tales) of Dicotyledons, the second finishes tlie whole series of Phauero- 

 garas, and includes the Ferns and their allies ; it has also a good ana- 

 lytical table of the Orders, and an index to the whole book. The ar- 

 rangement of the Orders is that usually adopted, but we notice that 

 Myriophyllum is placed with the polypetalous Orders, whilst Hippuris, 

 CallUriche, and (Jeratophyllum are found amongst the ApetalsB. San- 

 guisorbeee is also ranged with the latter. 



Under each species is given an exact reference to the work where 

 the name adopted is first used, a full description of the plant, rather 

 meagre indications of its localities, and (in small type) frequently cri- 

 tical notes. Synonyms are not systematically quoted, but are given 

 for some of the ciitical species. 



In his views of species, M. Grenier is what we call here a " splitter," 

 but he is not a very marked, or perhaps one should rather say a very 

 consistent one; for whilst sixteen Jordanic " species" of Euphrasia are 

 duly described and localized, there are only eight Mentha;, and Braba 

 verna remains intact with five " varieties." Like many other botanists 

 on the Continent, our author is inclined to make hybridization account 

 for a good many awkwardly intermediate plants, e. g. Potamof/eton de- 

 cipiem, Juncus diffusus, many 3Ienth'V and Cardid, etc. He is also 

 careful to note the supposed male and female parents respectively when 

 possible ; the mode of determination of this point is very ingenious in 

 the case of GarduuH pernonulo-dejluratas (p. 445). 



What most strikes a student who has worked at only the English 



* See 'Journal of Botany,' Vol. III. pp. 195-198. 



