1907] CURRENT LITERATURE 139 
told briefly and clearly, and their separation from gymnosperms as a coordinate 
group is defended, the provisional diagnosis being as follows: ‘‘Male and female 
sporophylls little differentiated from the vegetative foliage; no cones formed. 
Anatomy of either stem, or leaf, or both, of a Filicinean type, as was also the habit.” 
It is hard to see that such characters are more important that those which dis- 
tinguish the acknowledged groups of gymnosperms, and of equal importance 
with those that distinguish gymnosperms from angiosperms. The relations of 
the pteridosperms to the Cycadophyta and to the Cordaitales are also discussed. 
The whole paper is an admirable résumé of our knowledge of the subject, and 
will serve to present it clearly to many botanists who have either no time to con- 
sult the numerous original papers or no access to them. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PALEOZOIC FOSSIL PLANTS.—The third paper is an exceed- 
ingly useful bibliography prepared by ARBER.4 There is first a list of general 
monographs and textbooks, followed by a list of memoirs on special subjects, 
after which the titles are arranged stratigraphically, beginning with the Silurian. 
Under each geological period, beginning with the Devonian, the arrangement is 
by plant groups and by countries. 
GEOGRAPHIC BOTANY.—The fourth paper is by Franautt.s After a general 
historical and explanatory introduction, the subject is presented under the fol- 
lowing captions: (1) Descriptive phytogeography (Floristics), (2) Physiological 
subtopics heing discussions of the ecological factors, temperature, water, light, 
soil, humus, and the various so-called climates. Ontogenetic phytogeography deals 
with the history of the distribution of plants, including the historical origin of 
groups, migrations, and the succession of floras. Under historical phytogeog- 
raphy the work of man in relation to floras is discussed, including such subjects 
as the sources of rivers, mountain forests, dunes, etc. The paper brings toge Aner 
in an organized form the study of vegetation from the various points of view 
that have been often lumped under the general and very indefinite title Ecology. 
oT 
A South African textbook in botany 
This is not the first elementary textbook written for use in the South African 
schools, but it is perhaps the first to give so much attention to the ecological 
Point of view.® In this respect it is to be compared with the elementary text- 
RBER, E. A., NEWELL, Bibliography of literature on palaeozoic fossil plants, 
ncluing some of the more important memoirs published between 1870-1905- Op. 
cit. I: 
5 ne Cx., Les progrs de la géographie botanique depuis a 
état actuel, ses problémes. Op. cit. 1:243-317- : 
6STONEMAN, BERTHA, Plants and their ways in South Africa. 8vo. pp- ¥+ 
283. London: Longmans, Green, & Co. 1906. $1.10 
