1894. ] Current Literature. 77 
is a subject so full of interest that it cannot fairly be treated in 
our limited space. There is presented the source and distribution 
of moisture, the conservation of moisture, the temperature and 
seasons of the region, a classified list of the desert plants, and general 
and special adaptations. Under general adaptations the absence of trees 
is noted, and the size, spacing, and form of the characteristic shrubby 
vegetations in their relation to each other and the struggle for moist- 
ure. The marked special adaptations are also to be found chiefly 
among the shrubs, as the plants “subjected to all the seasonal changes 
of many years.” Naturally these special adaptations have to do chiefly 
with modifications for reducing transpiration, and also rapid radia- 
tion, and quite a list of plants is given with the modification in each 
case. This part of the report, however, deserves careful reading, and 
the whole stands as the most important one of the Contributions 
of the National Herbarium yet issued. It is also a matter of great 
congratulation that the twenty-one plates accompanying the report are 
of the best quality and not the rough ones that have been too com- 
mon in the “Contributions.” 
A Flora of French Polynesia.* 
_ Any account of the plants of the Southern Pacific is looked to with 
interest. The book before us is a regular manual, and looking through 
Its pages at once suggests a strange flora to one chiefly acquainted with 
north temperate regions. The structure of the islands, their topography, 
and the conditions of climate are described. All combine.to favor 
a luxuriant vegetation, one more brilliant than varied, and chiefly re- 
markable for the number of individuals. The great display of ever- 
green and suffrutescent species is noted, followed by trees and shrubs, 
the annuals representing a very insignificant part of the vegetation. 
The largest families, in the order of their importance, are Ferns, Le- 
Suminosz, Orchidacex, Rubiacez,Graminez, Cyperacee, Euphorbia- 
cex,and Urticacee. The usually dominant family of Composite is 
feebly represented, but it is interesting from the woody and arbores- 
cent forms it contains. The author considers the Polynesian Com- 
posite to be American in their affinities. The species of French Poly- 
hesia can be thrown into three categories, (1) those that are peculiar 
. ae) i which it has incommon with Oceanica exclusive of Ma- 
Th. ora, (3) those in common with the Indo-Malaysian region. 
rst group contains 28.9 per cent. of the flora, the second 20.8 
bee ae and the third more than the other two combined. The num- 
—__sPecies described is 744, of which 144 are ferns. 
*Det Castitto, E. Dra 
tesa eg 
352, with colored maps. 
KE:—Flore de la Polynésie Frangaise, description des 
issent spontanément ou qui sont généralement cultivées 
arquises, Pomotou, Gambier et Wal 
Paris. G. Masson. 1892. 
