158 P.OTAXTCAL XEWS. 



Xenia Orchidacea, Beitrage ziir Kenntniss der Orchicleen. Von Dr, 

 H. G. Eeichenbach, fil. (^Leipzig.) 



Dr. Eeichenbach hasat length completedthe second volumeof this work, 

 which is a sort of repertory of new or imperfectly known orchids. Each 

 volume contains 100 partially coloured plates, illustrating about 200 

 species. This is doubtlessa very useful book to orchidophilists, but when 

 will Dr. Keichenbach present us with the Species Orchidearum, or even 

 the Genera Orchidearum, of which he speaks in the preface to the first 

 volume, and of which this work may be regarded as the forerunner ? 

 The first volume of the Xenia was completed in 1858, approaching 

 twenty years ago, and still no signs of the more comprehensive works 

 we have just named. Perhaps we are some day to be suddenly 

 surprised ; but we fear that the learned author of the Xenia is delay- 

 ing' the hope of obtaining that degree of excellency for his big work 

 which is seldom reached. It would, indeed, be a great pity if he 

 should put off too long the publication of a book, which should 

 embody the results of so many years' labour, especially as this difficult 

 and numerous family of plants is so popular among horticulturists- 

 The preface to the second volume is devoted to the late Dr. Lindley, 

 who was Keichenbach' s predecessor and tutor in the study of orchids. 

 It is pleasant to know that these two men, devoted to the study of the 

 same branch of science, though they agreed to differ on some points, 

 were on the most friendly terms up to the melancholy termination of 

 Lindley's life. Dr. Reichenbach says, in opening his preface, that he 

 prefers devoting it to his departed friend, instead of introducing his 

 second volume with the customary account of labours achieved and 

 future aspirations. Let us hope that this silence respecting his own 

 work may indicate the speedy appearance of the book for which all 

 botanists look to him. W. B. H. 



23otauical |5ctD^, 



Articles in Jourx.als. — March. 



Bulletin Bot. Soc. France (tom. xxi., pt. 3). — C. Naudin, *' Allied 

 species and the theory of Evolution." — A. De Candolle, " Biographical 

 Notice of Meissner." — T. Delacour, " Vallisneria spiralis at Paris." — ' 

 C. Eoyer, " Kew Plants from Dep. of Cote-d'Or."— M. Cornu, '' On 

 the propogation of Puccinia Malvacearum.^^ — M. Doumet-Adanson, 

 *' On Acacia gummif era of Tunis." — C. Koumeguere, " Answer to W. 

 G. Smith." [See Gard. Chron., 26 October, 1874.]— E. Heckel, "In- 

 duced movements in the filaments of stamens of Compositae." — F. 

 Leclerc, " On movement of sap." — T. van Tieghem, " Specific gravity 

 and structure of embryo of some Leguniinoscc.''^ — G. Sicard, ** Bio- 

 graphical notice of F. S. Cordier." — E. Bureau, '* Notice of E. Durand 

 and his N. American herbarium."— H. A. Weddell, " Lichenological 



