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CURRENT LITERATURE. | 
BOOK REVIEWS. 
The African flora. | 
In VARIOUS European botanical centers the flora of Africa is receiving 
special attention, and what are called «“ novelties” are being published with 
bewildering rapidity. At Berlin, under the direction of Professor Engler, the 
publication of such work was begun in 1892 in the issues of the Royal Botan- 
ical Museums and Botanical Gardens. The time has come, however, to 
organize the results in some way, so that they may show more than lists of 
novelties. With this in view, Dr, Engler has arranged for a series of mono- 
graphs, in which characteristic families and’genera will be presented not only 
from the taxonomic standpoint, but also from that of their geographical dis- 
tribution and economic value. As is to be expected under Dr. Englers 
direction, geographical distribution does not have the narrow meaning it once , 
had, but is largely ecological, bringing out not merely areas, but the relation 
of vegetation to them. The first two parts* are now before us, and text and 
plates both give promise of a magnificent series. 
The Moracez are represented as follows: Morus (2 species), Chloro- 
phora (2), Cardiogyne (1), Dorstenia (41, of which 11 are new), Trymat- 
ococcus (2), Mesogyne (2), Scyphosyce (2), Treculia (5), Artocarpus (2), 
Bosqueia (5), Myrianthus (6, of which 1 is new), Musanga (1), Cannabis (1) 
The African display of the group is also compared with its occurrence M2 — 
tropical America and the East Indies. In conclusion the following facts ae 
said to be evident : : 2 
(1) A striking relationship between the forest floras of Africa and tropical : 
America; (2) a less striking relationship with the tropical Asiatic forest 
flora; (3) a somewhat important difference between the forest floras of af 
and west Africa; (4) a very evident difference between the Abyssinian forest 
flora and that of the rest of tropical Africa; (5) a transition and adaptation 
of the forest types to the steppes and deserts as well as to the mountains 
The Melastomacez are represented in Africa by twenty-three genera, the 
largest of which are Dissotis (51 species, 14 of which are new), Memecyloi 
(35, with 22 new), Osbeckia (16, with 6 new), Tristemma (15, with 7 new) 
* Monographien afrikanischer Pflanzenfamilien und Gattungen herausgegeben 
von A. Engler.—I. ENGLER, A.: Moracee (excl. Ficus. 4to. pp. iv-+ 50 A * 
Wilhelm Engelmann : Leipzig. 1898. d¢ 12.—II. GILc, E.: Melastomace®- gto. 
PP. 52. #2 70. Wilhelm Engelmann : Leipzig. 1898, JZ 10. 
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