June 30, 19 10] 



NATURE 



OOO 



before the next congress of 1915 ; in the meantime, workers 

 are recommended to make as few changes as possible from 

 generally accepted nomenclature. The discussion of a 

 starting point for the nomenclature of Bacteria, and of the 

 Schizophyceae, excepting the Nostocaceae, was postponed 

 until the next congress of 1915. 



A useful decision was arrived at in connection with the 

 names of pleomorphic fungi, the successive states of which 

 have been described under different names. It was agreed 

 that these should bear one generic and specific name, viz. 

 the earliest given to the state, which it is agreed to call 

 the perfect state, on condition that this name otherwise 

 conforms to the rules. The " perfect state " is that which 

 leads up to the ascus in the Ascomycetes, the basidium in 

 the Basidiomycetes, the teleutospore in the Uredineae, and 

 the spore in the Ustilagineae. The addition of figures, in- 

 cluding microscopic details, was recommended when 

 describing new genera or species of fungi. 



In palacobotany some difficulty has arisen from the use 

 of the same genus name for recent and fossil plants. In 

 order to reduce to a minimum changes of name resulting 

 from this cause, it was agreed to draw up a double list of 

 generic names which are to be retained : — (i) a list of the 

 generic names of living plants, duly published and in 

 general use, which enter into competition with earlier 

 names of fossil genera, such as Bucklandia ; (2) a 

 similar list of generic names of fossil plants which com- 

 pete with earlier homonyms of living plants, which have 

 been relegated to synonymy, in order to avoid the future 

 use of such names for the living plant. In the former case 

 the name of the living plant takes precedence, in the latter 

 that of the fossil. 



The palaeobotanists showed some disinclination to fall 

 into line with workers in descriptive botany generally in 

 making use of a Latin diagnosis when describing new 

 genera or species. It was, however, pointed out that a 

 diagnosis, giving merely the important characters of the 

 fossil in question, was required, and not a complete 

 description ; and, further, that such a diagnosis rendered 

 the form in question far more widely intelligible than a 

 description in a vulgar tongue. Those members who were 

 present at Vienna in 1905 called to minW the difficulty 

 experienced when attempting to limit the number and 

 variety of vulgar tongues which should be admissible for 

 the diagnosis of novelties. It was agreed that a Latin 

 diagnosis should be given, with the recommendation to the 

 author to add a full description in a vulgar tongue. 



The last matter for discussion was the proposition to 

 add to the list of nomina conservanda for seed-plants. The 

 original list, which was agreed to by the Vienna Congress, 

 was admittedly incomplete, but as it had been accepted 

 and used for five years many botanists were disinclined 

 to amend it. A list of additions was proposed which, if 

 accepted, would have upset again changes made since 1905 

 in conformity with the rules. On the other hand, the new 

 list contained names of large and important genera, such 

 as Persea, which could only be retained if included in a 

 list of nomina conservanda — on strict grounds of priority 

 they are inadmissible. It was decided to remove from the 

 list those names of genera the inclusion of which would 

 be subversive of changes already made, and with this 

 important alteration the additions to the original list were 

 agreed upon. 



Dr. John Briquet, upon whom as Rapporteur-Gdn^ral 

 has fallen the brunt of the work of the section of systematic 

 nomenclature, was persuaded to continue in office for the 

 next five years until the congress of 1915. 



The Vienna Congress had also appointed a commission 

 of eminent plant-geographers to draw up recommendations 

 for pliytogeographical nomenclature. The reporters of the 

 commission. Profs. Flahault and Schroeter, drew up a 

 report embodying their own views and those of other 

 workers upon various aspects of the question, and also a 

 series of recommendations based on the consideration of 

 the views and suggestions put forward. These recom- 

 mendations were accepted by a large majority of the com- 

 mission, and formed the subject of debate at the congress. 

 It was recognised that the congress should not attempt to 

 pass laws or rules, but merely recommendations supported 

 by reasoned annotations. It became evident, however, that 

 a general agreement on the recommendations as a whole 



I was not likely to be reached, and the reporters therefore 

 I decided to put before the congress only those recommenda- 

 j tions upon which there appeared to be substantial agree- 

 ! ment. The substance of these was as follows : — 



(i) That every author should explain exactly what he 

 understands by the terms he uses. 



(2) That the popular names of units of vegetation in the 

 various languages should be retained. 



(3) That the principle of priority in phytogeographical 

 terminology is inadmissible. 



(4) That a polygot synonymic dictionary of phytogeo- 

 graphical terminology with bibliographical references should 

 be compiled by a special commission. 



(5) That the colour scheme suggested by Prof. Engler 

 for maps of tropical vegetation be recommended for 

 adoption. 



(6) That ecological phytogeography may be defined as 

 the study of the relationships of plants and plant-com- 

 munities with their environment. 



These recommendations were carried nem. con. As 

 regards the somewhat contentious question as to the mean- 

 ing and definition of the two terms plant-association and 

 plant-formation which have come into use to designate the 

 most important units of vegetation, Prof. Flahault stated 

 that there appeared to be general agreement in considering 

 the association as a unit of definite floristic composition 

 and the formation as something different from the associa- 

 tion. 



Though it has not resulted in the establishment of a 

 uniform system, the work of the commission has been of 

 the greatest use in forcing workers to think about the 

 concepts and terms they employ and in promoting inter- 

 national exchange of views ; the promised synonymic 

 dictionary- will be invaluable. 



An invitation to the congress to meet in London in 1915 

 was accepted. 



At the conclusion of the congress many of the members 

 went on to Berlin to visit the new Royal Botanic Garden 

 and Museum, at the invitation of the director. Prof. .Adolf 

 Engler. The spacious new gardens, with the commodious 

 plant-houses, museum, and herbarium, which have been 

 arranged by Dr. Engler at Dahlem, fifteen minutes by rail 

 from Berlin, have replaced the older, smaller, and less 

 convenient institution in the Grunwaldstrasse, Berlin. A 

 special interest attaches to the gardens and museum at 

 Dahlem. Starting de novo with the advantage as object- 

 lessons of the great botanical institutions throughout the 

 world. Dr. Engler has organised a garden and museum on 

 thoroughly scientific lines, and embodying the ideas of a 

 great systematist and plant-geographer. It was a great 

 privilege to be conducted through the grounds and build- 

 ings by Dr. Engler, with the help of Prof. Urban, the 

 assistant-director, and other members of the staff, and in 

 the glorious summer weather which prevailed at the end 

 of May the gardens showed to the best advantage. The 

 arrangement is strictly scientific and educational, a small 

 space only being devoted to mere ornamental gardening. 

 A large portion is arranged on the lines of plant-geography. 

 Here we find a representation of typical German forest- 

 land and other Central European formations, and, so far 

 as space and climatic conditions permit, illustrations of the 

 vegetation of widely different areas both in the Old and 

 New Worlds. A most striking feature is the Alpine 

 section, or Alpinum. Miniature mountain ranges have been 

 thrown up, as far as possible to scale, and formed of the 

 natural stone, and planted with the characteristic species 

 and plant associations of the mountain area in question ; 

 an attempt has also been made to indicate altitudinal dis- 

 tribution. The student is thus able to make himself 

 acquainted by an object-lesson, to some extent, at anv 

 rate, with the flora of the Swiss Alps, the mountains of 

 the Caucasus, or the Himalayas. Miniature streams and 

 waterfalls add to the effect. 



Another section is devoted to biology and morphology, 

 while another forms a systematic teaching collection, with 

 facilities to enable the student to work at the plants on 

 the spot. Medicinal and economic plants have also their 

 section. A great part of the area is devoted to the 

 arboretum, a fine collection, though still young, as work 

 on the gardens was only begun about fourteen years ago. 

 The plant-houses include a fine tropical house illustrating 



NO. 2122, VOL. 83] 



