549 



be equal in number to those of the full-grown tree. If fewer, then 

 the subsequent addition must have been elaborated by the primordial 

 cellules. In the base of a stem of Botrychium Lunaria the rudimen- 

 tary plant which is to expand two years hence, may be found lodged 

 in the heart of another rudimentary plant which takes precedence of 

 it, and waits to succeed the plant of the pi'esent season. The forma- 

 tion of buds in exogenous plants may commence at an equally early 

 period : and if so, we may in vain hope to detect their elementary 

 cellule, or to trace the order of development. Mr. Henfrey's useful 

 book does all that can be done to simplify the study of vegetable phy- 

 siology, and we cordially recommend it on account both of its excel- 

 lence and its moderate price. 



The numerous illustrations, executed by himself, are more truthful 

 than any we have previously seen, and the details of the work are 

 more in accordance with our own views than are given in any other 

 English work. Only one exceptionable statement occurs to us. The 

 commonly entertained opinion that the evolution of carbonic acid by 

 night from the leaves of plants, proceeds from the oxidation of the 

 tissues has, we think, been disproved by Liebig, who shows that it 

 may be nothing more than the escape of what was contained in the 

 water previously absorbed by the plant and passing off by evaporation. 



G. 



Notice of the 'London Journal of Botany,^ No. 53, dated May , 1846. 

 (Continued from page 508). 



The contents of this number are, " Contributions to a Flora of 

 Brazil," by George Gardner (continued from the April number), 

 "Botanical Information." "Catalogue of the First Series of Plants 

 of Java, collected by Mr. Th. Lobb," by M. J. E. Planchon. " De- 

 scription d'un genre nouveau, voisin du Cliftonia, avec des observa- 

 tions sur les affinites des Sauraya, des Sarracenia, et du Stachyurus," 

 by J. E. Planchon. " New Hepaticae," by Thomas Taylor, M.D. 



The descriptions of South American Compositae, necessary as such 

 accounts may be to the technical and systematic botanist, will pos- 

 sess interest for few readers. The " Information" embraces announce- 

 ments of Zeyher's South African Plants and Bergeau's Canary Plants, 

 now on sale ; along with short notices of Plee's " Type de chaque Fa- 

 mille et des principaux Genres des plantes croissant spontanement 

 Vol. II. 3 y 



