3IO BOTANICAL GAZETTE [October 



oaks. Piniis nigra appears early in rock formations inland ; with this excep- 

 tion there is little in common between the Mediterranean and inland forests. 

 There are great areas of rocky heath inland having the physiognomy but not 

 the fioristic features of the heaths near the sea. The inland heath, too, is 

 potentially a forest, while the coastal heath is an expression of the Adriatic 

 climate. 



A third section deals with the mountains and many interesting features 

 are here described. There is a decided dominance of xerophytic associa- 

 tions, alpine meadows and similar formations being rare. Magnificent forests 

 of beech, fir, and spruce characterize the lower portions of the mountains, 

 just above the oaks. This forest type is not found on the seaward side of the 

 mountains because of the severe climate, which permits only xerophytic trees 

 like Pinus nigra to prosper. The beech approaches the lowlands more than 

 do the spruce and fir, while the latter are more characteristic of the higher 

 mountain districts. Various pines dominate in xerophytic areas. The sub- 

 alpine thicket is composed of pine, juniper, and various other shrubs which 

 form a typical " krummholz." The alpine plants embrace a large number of 

 endemic species, but there are also many widespread forms. 



The work concludes with some chapters on the floristic subdivision, his- 

 tory, and relationship of the Illyrian countries. Though the subdivision 

 is purely floristic, rainfall is regarded as the chief distributional factor. The ^ 

 book is well up to the high standard previously set by Willkomm, Pax, and 

 Radde. It is also of peculiar importance since it is the only available work 

 which sums up for general use the broad facts of plant distribution in south- 

 eastern Europe. — H. C. Cowles. 



MINOR NOTICES. 



Kenneth K. Mackenzie, assisted by B. F. Bush and others, has pub- 

 lished a Manual of the flora of Jackson county, Missouri."" It brings together 

 the records of several local floras, beginning with the Flora of Jackson county 

 by Mr. Bush in 1882. So far as the reviewer knows, this is the first manual 

 with full descriptions and keys devoted to a single county published in 

 the United States. The advantages of such a manual for local use are very 

 evident, and the students of botany in Jackson county are specially favored. 

 The book is exceptionally well printed, and with its keys, glossary, and 

 indexes is a very complete manual. The summary shows that 1141 species 

 and 51 varieties are included. — J. M, C 



A NEW disease of cultivated bananas near Alexandria, Egypt, has been 

 noted for three years.^ It is characterized by a sudden check of growth, the 

 leaf-points and central leaf blacken and die, putrefaction sets in and proceeds 



^8vo, pp. xix-(-242. Kansas City, Mo. 1902. 



3FAWCETT, William, A banana disease. Bull. Bot. Depart, Jamaica IX, lOO-ioS- 



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