438 Scientific Irdelligence, 



lent cup-like envelope grows up around it" (p. 136). Is ripening synony- 

 mous with the formation and growth, as well as the maturing of the 

 fruit? 



Lindley's system of the classification and nomenclature of fruits is 

 adoptfcid, with some modifications. It is well to have such a system, as 

 an analysis of the diversities of structure; but of the thirty-six kinds so 

 carefully defined and named only fifteen or sixteen are ever used in de- 

 scriptive botany, or ever will be, it is devoutly hoped. There is much in- 

 convenience in practice, and little advantage in designating every possible 

 modification of the same organ or set of organs by a distinct substantive 

 name, or in distinguishing by separate technical names fruits formed of a 

 simple ovary from those of a compound ovary, or fruits with an adherent 

 from those with a free ovary. Why not call the gooseberry and the 

 grape equally a berry, instead of restricting this name to the former and 

 naming the latter a nuculanium ; and why name the pod of an Iris a di- 

 , plotegia^ while that of a Lily is called a cajjsule? And while we terra 

 the pod of Saxifraga stellaris a capsule^ and that of S, tridactylites a di- 

 plotegia, what name are we to apply to that of S, aizoides^ which is only 

 half-superior ? 



Probably a wrong example is adduced on p. 148, for we cannot believe 

 that any species of Ranuncuhis has the rhaphe averse from the placenta 

 in the ripe fruit. By an oversight, on the same page, the fruits of Labiatse 

 are spoken of as seeds. 



As respects the systematic part, the chapters on the principles of classi- 

 fication, nomenclature, &c., strike us as sound and good throughout; and 

 in the account of the natural orders a great amount of information, such 

 as the medical student needs, is given in a comparatively small space. 

 Errors or misconceptions will necessarily occur in the compilation of such 

 an amount of materials, treating of structure, affinities, distribution, sen- 

 sible properties and medicinal or economical uses. They are not more 

 numerous than was to be expected, and we are not disposed to make 

 them the subject of criticism. 



We may remark, in passing, that, as respects the morphology of the 

 androecium in Fumariacese, the name of the writer of the present notice 

 is referred to, by some misconception, as adopting Lindley's well-known 

 hypothesis of the splitting of two stamens into halves; whereas he has 

 maintained a very different view. And then this is mentioned as *'ofier- 

 ing a phenomenon of chorisis," which in that view is quite incomprehen- 

 sible to us. 



We were surprised at the statement that the bark and leaves of H(^' 

 mamelia Virginka "are astringent and contain an acrid volatile oil,'' p. 

 307, We trace it back to Lindley's Vegetable Fmgdom, p. 784, and find : 

 "Tiic kernels of Hamamelis Virginica are oily and eatable. The leaves 

 and bark are very astringent, and also contain a peculiar acrid essential 

 oil ;'' and this, we find, comes from Endlicher's Enchiridion. How did this 

 bland and inert plant acquire such a reputation? Dr. Barton, who has 

 figured it, says nothing of its possessing any sensible properties or useful 

 qualities at all, except its use for divining-rods; nor do Pursh, Bigelow, 

 EUiott, Darlino-ton, &c "'^"-i- *- ««« •. — !..« ^..^..^,^i'^r.r^ nf s:nr,h nualities. 



iNo sign of any essential 



c, allude to any popular reputation of such qualities, 

 lal oil is to be detected in tlie foliage, and prolonged 



\ 



