48 NKW PUBLICATIONS. 



flora ajd with only English books when he first consults a foreign Flora, 

 is the number of cases in which a name is current abroad for a plant 

 different to that which it bears in this country. In many cases this is 

 due to a careful working out of synonymy by the consultation of the 

 early Linnsean Floras, which has led to the discovery of the original 

 name; and much remains to be done even in our own botanical litera- 

 ture, but in other instances, from the difficulty of ascertaining whether 

 the plants described by different writers are really the same, authors 

 are compelled to adopt the name that they are certain refers to the 

 plant in question, and this name will have usually been given by some 

 one of their own countrymen. Thus the plant called in England Scro- 

 phularla EJirJiarti, is -S'. umbrosa in Belgium, S. aquatica in Germany, 

 and S. alata in France (as in the book under notice) , each name having 

 been bestowed by an English, Belgian, German, and French author 

 respectively. In yet other cases changes of name result from an ex- 

 cessive refinement, or from division of old well-defined species ; thus 

 our author discards Senecio Jacobcea, L., for S. riemorosus, Jord., because 

 Linnfeus describes his species as perennial, whilst the French plant is 

 biennial; and Cnitaurea nigra, L., for C. obscara, Jord., the G. nigra 

 of the ' Flore de France' being C. tiemoralis, Jord. Such changes are 

 of very doubtful expediency. 



Many valuable criticisms and observations on British species will be 

 found in the book. Cnscuta Trifolii is regarded as a luxuriant variety 

 or monstrosity of 0. Epithi/mum ; M. Grenier states that in a very hot 

 and dry summer he has seen the former pass into the latter. The only 

 doubt here is whether the true C. Trifolii, as we know it in England, 

 was under observation at all. The Hieracia are very fully treated, 

 and there are excellent accounts of the Grasses and Cyperacece. 



We must consider this as a valuable addition to our knowledge of the 

 European flora ; one thing, however, has struck us forcibly. Mr. 

 Syme's excellent descriptions and critical remarks are never once quoted 

 or alluded to in the book. Is the new edition of ' English Botany' un- 

 known in France ? 



