5 ft le a Matas 
194 * BOTANICAL GAZETTE. [ July, 
CURRENT LITERATURE. 
The Entomophthorez of the U. S.! 
Mr. Thaxter has undertaken a study of the entomogenous plants of 
North America, and presents his first contribution to the subject upon 
the group named in the title. The paper embodies not only his own ob- 
servations, but those of American and European botanists. Of the former 
just three are cited, as against twenty of the latter. After preliminary 
remarks upon the sources of material and information, and the our 
other groups of entomogenous plants, the author proceeds to a consid- 
eration of the Entomophthores, of which three genera are found in this 
country—Empusa, Massospora and Basidiobolus. Entomophthora and 
Tripl i idered genera of Empusa. The morphology 
and life history of Empusa are thoroughly treated; the various species 
are described, and figured on exquisite lithograph plates. Twenty-six 
species are recognized, of which the following sixteen are new: E. apl- 
culata, papillata, Caroliniana, lageniformis, Lampyridarum, geometralis, 
occidentalis, dipterigena, virescens, Americana, montana, echinospora, 
sepulchralis, variabilis, rhizospora and gracilis. Arthur’s Entomophthora 
Phytonomi (Bor. Gaz., xi, 14) is referred to Empusa sph:erosperma, and 
ssey’s Entom. Calopteni (Am. Nat, xvii, 1280) to Empusa Grylli. The 
monograph is excellently done, and is worthy of the dress and com- 
pany in which it appears. Botanists can help Mr. Thaxter by sending 
material to him at New Haven, Conn. 
Coutributions to American botany.? 
Dr. Watson finds that our 33 North American species of Vesicaria 
are entitled to generic rank, and so he cuts a Gordian knot of difficulties 
by separating them from the Old World forms under the generic name 
Lesquerella. Yn this way, Alyssum Lescurii of Gray's Manual becomes 
Lesquerella Lescurii, which double honor is none too much for the vel 
globosa. But most of our Lesquerellas are western and cool 
and the specific names under Vesicaria are, for the most part, transferre 
to the new genus. 
A revision of Draba is also given, showing 82 species, the only change 
among the eastern forms being the reduction of D. arabisans to a variety 
of D. ineana. 
In addition to these revisions, 27 species new to the United ae” 
are described, among which is a new genus of Composite (Eupatoriace 
from Florida, and described by Dr. Gray under the name hia. 
a ee OT Oh 
ton SUAXTER, RoLanp.— 
The Entomophthorex of the United States. Memoir 
y of Natura, 
ty 
D of the Bos 
1 Hist ey ; 31-201, pl. xiv-xxi, 4to. Boston 
lished by the Socie ; Frit gt le iv, No, vi, pp. 131-201, pl. xiv-x 
: Pub- 
proc. AM- 
4. A280N, SERENO.—Contributions to American Botany, XV. From the Prot. 
Acad. xxiii, pp. 249-287. [Issued May 29, 1888) 6) POY 
