1891-] ♦ Open Letters 



89 



list is based upon collections made during the years 1882 to 1889, an d 

 shows very careful work. Specialists have been consulted in their 

 various groups, and the nomenclature follows the use of the oldest 

 specific name in every case, accompanied by many useful citations of 



authorities. 



The last number of Pittonia is before us (vol. ii, part 9) and we 

 note the following contents: In a discussion of the genus Actaea, Prof. 

 Greene doubts whether we have the true Old World A. spicata with 

 us at all, and is also confident that we have 3 or 4 species of our own. 

 He characterizes a new species from Arizona. Ranunculus ellipticus 

 is a new species to replace much that has been called R. glaberrimus. 

 A very useful feature of this number is the reprint of the old Fraser's 

 Catalogue, really written by Nuttall, often referred to, and very inac- 

 cessible. American botanists will thank Professor Greene for this 

 valuable addition to their reference libraries. A prominent contribu- 

 tion is that concerning some genera of Rafinesque. It would be a 

 wonderful relief if botanists could be certain once for all just what 

 genera Rafinesque is entitled to. Some 14 or so are recognized in 

 Gray's Manual, and Professor Greene thinks the number will eventually 

 be almost doubled. He presents the following results of his biblio- 

 graphical investigations: Shepherdia Nutt= Lepargyraa Raf . ; Madura 

 Nutt= Ioxylon Raf./ Downingia Torr.— Bohlia Raf.; Echinocystis r I. 



& G. and Megarrihiza Wats.= Micrampelis Raf.; Stephanomeria Nutt= 



,Ptihria Raf. Of course these conclusions are accompanied by a pre- 

 sentation and naming of all the species. The North American species 

 of the genus Lotus (= Hosackia) are presented, to the number of 54. 

 The part closes with a revision of the genus Diplacus Nutt., a genus 

 including a few species usually referred to Mimuius. 



Mr. Theodor Holm, of the U. S. National Museum, has long been 

 studying the underground structures of plants, a very much neglected 

 study. In a paper (reprinted from the January number of the Bull 

 Torr. Bot. Club, pp. 1-11) he contributes some very interesting infor- 

 mation concerning Uvularia, Oakesia, Dicentra and Krigia. The 

 descriptions are elucidated by three excellent plates. 



OPEN LETTERS. 



Last words on " biology." 



I had thought that botanists were a gentle folk, but in the late num- 

 bers of the Gazette I have been treated in the same manner as they 

 treat their plants — pulled to pieces. One accuses me of missing the 

 whole point in question, while the other charges me with all the sins 

 in the philological and metaphysical decalogues. 



