138 REVIEWS. [June, 



discarded^ and hence we have Polygonacea, Illecebracece, Cheno- 

 podiacece, Amaranthacecu, Aceracece, Droseracea, Berberidacem, 

 and Ericaceae, between Crassulacece and Caryophyllacece. The 

 Order Leguminiferce follows Labiata and Boraginacece. Rosacem 

 follows Lentibulariaceoi. The Pines follow the Campanulas. 



Beginners may be better judges than we are how far these 

 changes are conducive to their progress. We are of opinion 

 (old-fashioned or unfashionable though the opinion may be) 

 that to divide the Exogenous plants into such as have a poly- 

 petalous^ and into those having a monopetalous corolla, when 

 the perianth is double, and into such as have a single perianth or 

 none at all, is not a bad division. These might be subdivided 

 into plants which have the ovary free or the ovary attached or 

 adherent, as the case may be ; the latter of course comprising 

 the Perigynous and Epigynous Orders ; while the former would 

 include all the Hypogynous plants. This is all we have to say 

 about arrangement. 



Some improvements might be made by Mr. Childs in the de- 

 finition of the Orders : for example, " Nympliaeacece, — stamens 

 indefinite; styles single or none; petals passing gradually into 

 stamens. Water-plants." Also, " Elatinacece, — stamens definite. 

 Little marsh annuals." Again, " Cistacece, — stamens all perfect ; 

 sepals five, persistent." This character would include every Or- 

 der with indefinite stamens and five persistent sepals, which is 

 the rule in Hypericaceae, Rosacea, and Malvacea. The following 

 Orders are arranged under the common character " United car- 

 pels," viz. Polygonacea, Chenojjodiacece, Aceracece, Ericacece, Ga- 

 ry ophyllacecB, Linacece, etc. We do not understand what the 

 author means by " united carpels," but there is an evident and 

 wide distinction between the fruit of Spinach, Beet, Goosefoot, 

 and that of the Pink, Flax, Wood Sorrel, etc. In the distinc- 

 tive characters of species, Viola hirta is described as being with- 

 out scions. Both Viola odorata and V. hirta are stoloniferous. 

 There are a few omissions of species which are usually enume- 

 rated among British plants, of which the following are examples : 

 Impatiens fulva, a plant known to have been naturalized above 

 two centuries, and which has an area of many square miles. 

 Maianthemiim bifolium is retained, with the character of a doubt- 

 ful native. Galamintha sylvatica is another absentee; while 

 Thesium humile, Vahl, duly appears, indorsed with the high au- 



