1904] CURRENT LITERATURE 313 
relations of the plant associations. The headwaters of the Lena are in the 
Steppe and the mouth is in the tundra, but most of the stream traverses a 
forest region, While larch, spruce, and pine dominate southward, the forests 
nearer the mouth are composed almost wholly of larch. Alluvial savannas 
decrease northward, Cajander employs ‘“Bestand”’ in the ordinary sense, 
but uses “association” where most authors use “formation.” “Series” is 
used fora group of genetically connected associations. The forest associa- 
tions usually start with a thicket of Sa/ix viminalis, which is succeeded by a 
mixed thicket, and later in turn by alders, birch, and spruce. The final stage 
on areas subject to overflow is a forest of spruce and larch; on alluvium above 
the freshet line there are pure larch forests. Various succession series are 
found in the meadows, differences being largely due to variations in the 
character of the soil; the final stages are very similar. An interesting vari- 
ation in the succession series is shown by Egutsetum arvense which precedes 
Carex acuta in rich soil, but comes after it in pure sand. In his concluding 
remarks, Cajander introduces the term ‘vicarious associations,” by which he 
means associations that occupy similar places in the genetic series. Associ- 
ations are climatically vicarious if they occur in different regions; ¢. Z., 
Carex acuta association replaces northward the Carex aguati/is association 
of the upper Lena, One may cite as an illustration of edaphically vicarious 
associations the Eyutsetum fluviatile and Eleocharis associations which occupy 
@ pioneer position in different soils of the same region.—H. C. COWLE 
A flora of northwest America.° 
THomas Howe.t, so long known as an indefatigable collector, has 
brought together the results of years of field experience in a large volume 
describing the flowering plants of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, a corner 
of the United States that had been left unprovided with a handy manual. 
Aside from the need of a manual for this‘region, the flora is one of the most 
interesting within our boundaries. The first fascicle of the present work was 
issued in 1897, although we are informed that the actual writing of the flora 
began in 1882, and now the completed seven fascicles appear in the volume 
before us. The sequence is that of Bentham and Hooker, the nomenclature 
is Conservative, and the conception of species has been held to the old lines. 
the 3,150 species and varieties described 89 are new, but Mr. Howell is 
further to be credited with having contributed to monographers many more 
new species of his collecting. ‘ 
This volume has been published under such unusual conditions, which 
are nowhere referred to in it, that they should be recorded. In 1896, when 
the first fascicle was ready for the printer, no typesetter able to set the tech- 
*HOwELL, Tuomas, A flora of northwest America, containing brief descriptions 
of all the known indigenous and naturalized plants growing without cultivation north 
ot California, west of Utah, and south of British Columbia. ol, I. Phanerogamae. 
8vo pp. 816. 1903. Portland, Oregon: The author. $5.00. 
