112 THE JOUKNAL OF BOTANY 



in this species, Dr. Wille shows from his own observation and those 

 of Dr. Huber that such a process is not unhkely to exist. As to the 

 systematic position of Blastophysa, Dr. Wille entirely agrees with 

 Dr. Huber in removing it from Valoniacece to the Chtetophoracece, 

 where he places it as a much reduced form next to PlmopkHa, not- 

 withstanding the chromatophores and nuclei. In this course he is 

 doubtless right. 



The last note deals with iSpiruijijra fallax (Hansg.). This plant 

 was found by Dr. Wille at Tempelhof, near Berlin, in 1882, and, 

 though he recognized it as new, it remained unpublished. He 

 regards it as identical with S. insujnis Kiitz. var. fallax Hansg., 

 published some years later ; but, as the description given by Dr. 

 Hansgirg is not sufficiently full, a diagnosis is given here of the 

 alga which is now raised to specific rank. 6\ fallax occupies an 

 intermediate position in the genus Spiroijijra, for, though it must 

 be placed in the subgenus Emplrotjura, it resembles in certain 

 respects /S'. punctata CI. The special points described in each note 

 are figured. 



E. S. B. 



The European Sphai/nacece {after Warmtorf). By E. Charles 

 HoRRELL, F.L.S. London : West, Newman & Co. 1901. 

 Pp. 87. Price 2s. 6d. 



The SpluKjuaceie are represented by a single genus which is 

 sharply separated off from the rest of the Mosses by the peculiar 

 spongy structure of its leaves and stems, and also by the mor- 

 phology and development of its sporogonium, which are suggestive 

 of a nearer descent from some Anthocerotoid ancestor than can be 

 claimed for the other Mosses. Moreover, as in the case of other 

 plants of promiscuous aquatic habit, the Sphar/na present such a 

 wealth of perplexing transition-forms as to render their classification 

 an extremely difficult matter. It is not surprising, then, that they 

 should have been made the subject of a separate and critical study. 

 Of those who have devoted themselves to this litudy, the principal 

 exponent is Dr. C. Warnstorf, of Neuruppin. But his work, pub- 

 lished in numerous papers in German periodicals, has hitherto 

 failed to meet with the recognition it deserves in this country. 

 With the view of making it better known to English readers and of 

 enabling them to bring up the tale of our native species to the 

 standard of continental systematists, Mr. Horrell has undertaken 

 the task of putting into English the latest determinations at which 

 Dr. Warnstorf has arrived as to the disposition and delimitation of 

 the species and varieties. 



Dr. Warnstorf attaches great importance to the position and 

 form of the chlorophyllose cells of the ramuline leaves as seen in 

 cross-section, and also to the form and distribution of the pores of 

 the hyaline cells. Hence success in the new Sphagnology is to be 

 attained only by patient section-cuttmg. And as the multiplication 

 of cryptogamous species usually varies in direct proportion with the 

 magnification afforded by the powers of the microscope employed, 



