86 botanical gazette. [March, 



known names to replace those in use. For example, we find Ustilago 

 Candollei given as Sphacelotheca Hydropiperis, Puccinia Petalostemonis 

 transferred to the genus Uropyxis, established by Schr<">ter for the curious 

 Puccinia on Amorpha, Puccinia vertisepta from New Mexico changed to 

 Diorchidium Tracyi, Melampsora Epilobii and M. Crotonis both placed 

 under Pucciniastrum. One notices by this that a number of genera, not 

 heretofore much in favor, have been reinstated. The ^cidia forms have 

 been distributed so far as possible, and especially so under Gymnospo- 

 rangium. 



The thing that one misses in these volumes, and yet a thing scarcely 

 to be expected in such a compilation, is a critical valuation of the species. 

 In fact it takes no very extensive knowledge of the American flora, 

 to be able to eliminate a number of the so-called species as having no 

 just claim to recognition, and to add to the range of other species. But 

 with all faults of omission and error, to a large part inseparable from 

 such an undertaking, the work is still one of great value, and will do 

 much toward helping and elucidating the systematic study of fungi. 



minor Notices. 



Dr. C. C. Parry has just published a revision 3 of the genus Ceano- 

 thus, based upon field observations on the Pacific coast covering a period 

 of forty years. The work heretofore has necessarily been done with 

 fragmentary herbarium specimens, and Dr. Parry's observations supply 

 much needed information. Before enumerating the species the author 

 makes some very interesting general observations, and also discusses the 

 characters by which species and groups can be most satisfactorily defined. 

 The Pacific coast of California constitutes the most suitable home for the 

 genus, "and in its varied aspects of soil and climate, invites to the largest 

 display of specific forms." In California the greatest profusion and vari- 

 ety of forms are found in the Santa Cruz range of mountains. Two new 

 species are described, C. Andersoni and C. divergent. 



In the publication referred to above, Dr. Parry discusses certain 

 species of Chorizanthe and describes two new ones, C. Andersoni and C. 



robusta. 



The first bulletin from the laboratories of Iowa State University 

 is before us. It is a publication of 96 pages, containing eight articles, 

 three of which are botanical, with the following titles : The saprophytic 

 fungi of E. Iowa— the genus Agaricus, Series I and II, by T. H. McBride; 

 The Peronosporese in Iowa, by T. H. McBride and A. S. Hitchcock ; Bo- 

 tanical notes, by T. H. McBride. The botanical notes speak of spore-dis- 

 persal among fungi, an undesirable immigrant (Solanum rostratum), 

 and a moul d growing jn hydrochloric acid. 



descHDrion; C ' f P^'n n, ' thU8L - A ^'"P^^ist, compr tag gap*. ,, with notes snd 



descriptions (1 roc. Davenport Acad. V, pp. u; 2 -l74.) Issued! b. »,] >. 



