1902] CURRENT LITERATURE 149 



The tenth part^^ contains the Tropaeolaceae by Fr.Buchenau, who recognizes 

 50 species, but describes no new ones. The eleventh part*^ contains the 

 Marantaceae by K. Schumann, who after a somewhat detailed preliminary 

 discussion presents the 26 genera, 11 of \i\nz\\{Actoplanes,Sarcophryniiun, 

 Stachyphryniian, Halopegia^ Afrocalathea, Monophryniujn, CtenopJuyjiiiun, 

 Phacelophrynium, Pleiostachyay Motiophyllanthe, and AIo7ioiag?na) are des- 

 cribed as new. The species number 277, the large genus being Calathea 

 with 103 species, and 42 new species are described. — J, M, C, 



In a paper on plant distribution Bruncken^* has contributed some 

 valuable ecological data. The first topic is the succession of forest types 

 in the vicinity of Milwaukee. Three mesophytic associations are dis- 

 cussed ; viz., oak, basswood-maple, and elm-ash. The oak is the most 

 prevalent, though evidence is not lacking that it would become replaced by 

 the basswood-maple association if not interfered Avith by man. Mixed with 

 the basswoodand maples near Lake Michigan the beech is found. This, the 

 author states, is probably due to lake climate. There is evidence that a more 

 ^ xerophytic forest of white pine and white birch once prevailed along the 



lake shore. The second topic is the distribution of the genus \'ioIa, 

 After a careful study of the distribution of the various species, the author 

 concludes that the occurrence of the more or less xerophytic species depends 

 on the amount and quality of the humus. The third topic is the upland 

 brushwoods of the Milwaukee region, their typical development being treated 

 in detail. The fourth section is a list of plants collected on the Door co. 

 peninsula, Wisconsin ; the fifth discusses the forests and brush lands of 

 northern Waukesha co., Wisconsin; the sixth presents lists of eastern Wis- 

 consin plants from the herbarium of the Milwaukee Public Museum; the 

 seventh is entitled "A tamarack swamp in Waukesha co.;" and the eighth is 

 a list of plants from Sheboygan. — H. N. Whitford. 



A HANDBOOK of New England trees by Dame and Brooks ^s has been 

 added to the list of popular works in botany. Each tree is discussed under 

 several topics, as the habitat and range, habit, bark, winter buds and leaves. 



fruiting characters, and the horticultural value. The description of the bark 

 and of the winter buds will facilitate the identification of trees in their 

 f wmter condition. The distribution of the trees in the different New^ England 



^^ Ibid. Tropaeolaceae von Fr. Buchenau, pp. 36. Jfi.So. 



^^Idid. Marantaceae von K. Schumann, pp. 184. A/g,20. 



'*Bruncken, Ernest, Studies m plant distribution. Bull. Wisconsin Nat. Hist. 

 Surv. 2: 17-28, 137-169. 1902. 



'sDame, Lorin L., and Brooks, Henry, Handbook of New England trees, 



'With ranges throughout the United States and Canada. Boston : Ginn & Company, 

 1902. $1.35. 



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