2 3 8 The Botanical Gazette. [August, 



EDITORIAL. 



There is a certain fixity necessary in the terms which are used in 

 descriptive botany; yet if anyone will compare descriptions of plants 

 written ioo — or even 50 — years ago with modern ones the changes 

 that have occurred in terminology will be striking. These changes 

 have crept in almost unperceived in most cases, and have been made 

 in deference to modifications in the morphological concepts. But if 

 the list of terms now in use be scrutinized it will be seen that many do 

 not in the least correspond to the present views of the morphology of 

 the parts. Note for example the terms relating to the flower men- 

 tioned by Prof. MacMillan at p. 178; and further such as acaulescent, 

 adnate (anthers), albumen and plumule for the Phanerogams; stipe 

 and frond for the Ferns; areolation, apophysis and acrocarpous for 

 the Mosses; and a host of others that might be specified. 



shall be done with such terms? Drop them and substitute 

 the more correct ones, says the morphologist; whereat the systematic 

 raises his hands in holy horror, because the necessity for change does 

 not appear. Nor it is likely that it can be made obvious to him. He 

 is looking at the blue side of the shield; the morphologist at the 

 white. Here is an opportunity for the botanical congress of 1893. It 

 may wisely undertake not only to unite systematists in some common 

 action regarding nomenclature, but take steps toward revising the in- 

 consistent terminology of the science. 



We say "of the science" for morphology is by no means guiltless 

 in this matter. The most thorough attempt to revise the terminology 

 of the reproductive organs of cryptogams was made a few years ago by 

 Bennett and Murray. Though not wholly consistent nor wise, the 

 move was in the right direction and their suggestions might serve as a 

 basis for future revision. 



What 



Wa 



CURRENT LITERATURE. 



The Podostemace?e. 



account of 



r-r *"*■* Mwuiijr- contains an aamiraDie accuum — 



the characters of this small, but very interesting family, the position 

 ot which, formerly in dispute, the author states to be close to the 

 toxifragace* Several years ago Mr. Warming made a special study 

 ot this family, and the present paper contains most of the results of 

 the investigations, which have been made with his usual acuteness in 



morphological an atomical questions. The structure of the vege- 



„,„„„, '', Eu ^-- Pod^^c~7in^er~u^d Prantl: Die natu^^n 

 Pfl.nzenfam.hen III. •>. a . Le lpzig : Wilhelm Engelmann. September, 1800. 



Warmi: 



