A MONO&RAPII OF THE GEXUS BRICKELLTA 117 



examined before definite conclusions can be arrived at with regard to 

 numerous species. 



As the genus becomes better known, we may be able to explain 

 why some species are found in Asia, Africa and Australia (if they are 

 the same), e. g. P. javanicus Hasshl. Are the differences real, or 

 are they induced by climatal or other influences ? And why is Japan 

 a meeting-place of so many spacies of all the world's area ? 



With the additional species here described, and accepting most of 

 the species published up to the end of 1910, the genus now consists 

 of some 140 species. I reserve for a future notice some notes upon 

 the British species discussed, meanwhile pointing out that Dr. Hag- 

 strora's work is essential to those botanists who wish to obtain a full 

 knowledge of the genus. 



A. Benxett. 



Beickellta axd the Brickells. 



A Monocfraph of the Genus BricJcelUa. By Bexjamtx Liivcolx 

 KoBixsox (Memoirs of the Grray Herbarium, no. 1). Harvard 

 University Press : Cambridge, Mass. 4to, pp. 151. 



Speaktxg in the wide sense, the Brickellias are Eupatoriums with 

 10-ribbed achenes as contrasted with the 5-angled achenes of the 

 latter genus. This character, unimportant as it would seem to plants 

 in the struggle for existence, is an excellent one for taxonomic pur- 

 poses, only a single species of the ninety-one here described being in 

 this respect doubtful, so that its affinities have to be decided upon 

 characters of minor importance. The genus, exclusively a New World 

 one, is mainly found in Western North America, Mexico and the 

 Central American republics, whence it extends sparingly to Bolivia 

 and Eastern Brazil, with one species reaching the West Indies. 

 Economically and horticulturally it possesses but slender interest. 



The author has diligently searched for sectional characters, a 

 matter of considerable difficulty which he seems to have overcome 

 successfully, his nine sections appearing easily workable ones. Each 

 species is accompanied by a careful description and a full list of its 

 collectors arranged geographicalh^ A list of exsiccatse under the 

 collectors' names, a very useful adjunct to a monograph, is also 

 appended. Another most valuable feature is that every S2)ecies has 

 an inset illustration, showing not only the habit but containing an 

 anaWsis of the floral structure. Though suspiciously like the un- 

 gracious fault of looking a gift horse in the mouth, one may perhaps 

 regret that the illustrations showing portions of the inflorescence, 

 generally drawn to a |-scale, are not natural size, as this would have 

 required only a little more space. But as it is we heartily welcome 

 this handsome monograph, which will enhance the author's already 

 deservedly high reputation. 



S. M, 



In connection with his work on the genus, Dr. Bobinson looked 

 into the history of the name, the results of which form the subject 



