34 THE JOURNAL OP BOTANY 



are taken up with Protomijces : the account opens with a historical 

 study of the genus, then the several species receive separate 

 treatment first from a study of Uving specimens, and tlien from a 

 cytological standpoint. It must be said that the general portion 

 suffers from prolixity — a common failing in botanical works 

 written in German. The author gives an account of his 

 experiments on the specialization of parasitism in ProtomTjccs 

 macro sjjorus, and distinguishes the formae speciales Cicutarice, 

 Garvi, JEgopodii, Heraclei and Laserpitii latifolii. In the case of 

 the species infecting Compositae three species are given, P.pachy- 

 dermus, P. kreuthensis and P. Crepidis " nov. spec, ad interim." 

 There is no morphological difference between the first two species, 

 but they are restricted to their special hosts ; in P. Crepidis 

 there is a slight difference in the shape of the "ascus" and in the 

 effect on the host. Protomycopsis is treated historically, and its 

 development and cytology are then given. Taphridium and 

 Volkartia are next considered, and a differentiation made between 

 them principally on the difference in spore formation. The 

 result is that the species first described by Eostrup in 1885 as 

 Taphrina umhelliferarum now enters into its fourth genus ! The 

 systematic position of the Protomycetacae has been always a 

 matter of debate. Biiren considers they are best placed in the Pro- 

 tascineae, forming a subfamily with Dipodascus. This entails the 

 suggestion that each spore mother-cell should be considered as an 

 ascus which is rather startling having regard to the method of 

 spore formation. The interesting parallel between the Ustilagineae 

 and the Protomycetacese is also pointed out. 



In the systematic portion the descriptions seem clear and 

 accurate, and there are plenty of figures to help one in the 

 identification of species, though here, as in most obligate 

 parasites, an identification of the host plant is one of the most 

 certain clues to the specific identification of the fungus parasite. 

 The seven plates deal with cytological details. A bibliography, 

 an index of species, and an index of host plants are given. The 

 printing is good and the monograph is one which must be 

 consulted by all who are concerned with the group treated. 



J. Eamsbottom. 



The Flora of the Nilgiri and Pulney Hill-tops [above 6500 ft.), 

 being the wild and commoner introdAtced Flowering Plants 

 round the Hill-stations of Ootacamund, Kotagiri, and Kodai- 

 hanal. By P. F. Fyson, B.A., F.L.S., Professor of Botany, 

 Presidency College, Madras. 8vo. cloth. Vol. i, pp. xxvi, 

 475, 4 maps. Vol. ii, 268 plates. Price 10 rupees. 

 It is no disparagement to the carefully drawn up text of this 

 work to say that its most attractive portion is the plates which 

 make up its second volume. The absence of figures has hitherto, 

 with very few exceptions, been a serious drawback to the useful- 

 ness of colonial floras, whether of a country or of a district. In 

 every place the number of folk who will take the trouble to 



