Miscellanies. 177 
here to the corolla; the two carpels which form the ovary are at first 
distinct, and are united only at a later period. Dr. Grisebach makes 
some observations upon the origin of the placenta, (the organ upon 
which the ovules and seeds are produced,) which have an important 
bearing upon some interesting questions in vegetable anatomy and 
physiology, which are now undergoing a lively discussion, but which 
would not be understood by many of the readers for whom these no- 
tices are intended, without a more extended statement of the questions 
in dispute than we have here room to give.* In the account of the 
geographical distribution of Gentianaceous plants, several interesting 
general questions in botanical geography are discussed somewhat in 
detail. The whole number of species described in the work (excluding 
the very doubtful ones) is three hundred and forty three; of which 
fifty two are given as natives of North America; the latter are thus 
distributed among thirteen genera. 
Tribe Cutorex ; Sabbatia 11 species, and a ras Chlora (*) 
“ ErvytHr“acex ; Erythrea 4, Cicendia 
“ SWERTIEZ; Gentiana 22, Cenitaurella (Bertoni Muhi.) 3, 
Pleurogyne 1, Halenia 3, Frasera 3, Swer 
“ Menvanruipem; Villarsia 1, _ Spee eA 1, [too few,] 
Menyanthes 1. 
hree genera only are peculiar to this country, viz. Sabbatia, Cen- 
taurella and Frasera. The name of Centaurella is still retained 
for the Bartonia of Muhlenberg and Willdenow, which is by several 
years the oldest name, and should be retained, more especially since 
the Bartonia of Nuttall and Pursh will doubtless be merged in Ment- 
zelia. 
9. The Journal of Botany, containing figures and descriptions of 
such plants as recommend themselves by their novelty, rarity, his- 
tory, or uses ; togethe nacith Hskante Sobies ne SRO y ane 
occasional portraits and memoirs of deceased Botanists: by 8 
Wu. Hooxer, K. H., &c. (Vol. Il, Nos. 9.and 10, Febr. and March: 
1840. )—Hooker’s Journal of Botany, which was commenced in 1834, 
but soon discontinued for want of sufficient patronage, is again re- 
sumed, and is to be continued in monthly numbers. Each number 
contains from fifty-two to fifty-six pages, and two plates, (published 
by Longman, Orme & Co., London, at 2s. 6d.) The contents of 
these two numbers are 
I. Musci Indici, or List of the mosses aR in the East Indies 
by Dr, Wallich; with references to the figures of the new species 
* We hope to give some notice of the recent progress of vegetable anatomy and 
physiology, in ensuing ni 
Vol. xxx1x, No. 1.—April-June, 1840. 23 
