CURRENT LITERATURE 
BOOK REVIEWS 
The origin of a land flora 
Under this title Professor Bower has written a volume which must be 
regarded as the culmination of his important studies during the last 
twenty years. It is a formal and amplified statement of the views advanced in 
his series of five papers entitled “Studies in the morphology of spore-producing 
members,” published between 1894 and 1903. 
The scope of the volume is very broad and its spirit is admirable. The 
author recognizes that his thesis is not proved; that in the very nature of the case 
it never can be; and that there are many possible alternatives. However, he 
presents so strong a case that the truth of the theory would not come to anyone 
as a surprise. Naturally the book is speculative, and the author’s frequent insis- 
tence that this is the case should be respected by those who follow its doctrine. 
The human mind seems to be so constituted that when a view is distinctly formu- 
lated it thereby seems to gain additional proof. 
There is a strong tincture of teleology at every turn, the elimination of which 
would have strengthened the discussion. This gives it a flavor of unreal ‘“‘other- 
worldliness” that is becoming unscientific. That a certain structure would be 
useful to a plant and therefore it grows, is hardly acceptable as an explanation of 
origins. 
The thesis of the volume is the origin of the sporophyte as an antithetic genet 
ation, which has become fixed and amplified by the invasion of the land. s 
developing this doctrine, the author presents first a statement of the working 
hypothesis (pp. 254), then a detailed statement of facts (pp. 403), and finally the gen- 
eral comparisons and conclusions (pp. 60). In a brief review it is impossible to 
present the suggestions that fill these three parts. The second part—the statement 
of facts—is wisely separated from the other two, and in this form it represents . 
admirable treatment of the morphology of bryophytes and pteridophytes, epee 
ally the latter. Much new material is included here, and especially helpful 1 - 
€ massing of the morphological, anatomical, and paleobotanical evidence 
These three points of view are too often kept separate, when they should serve 
as checks upon one another. 
The two theoretical parts also contain much more detail than can be presented. 
However, the broad outlines of the working hypothesis and some of the more 
important conclusions may be indicated. 
Bower, F. O., The origin of a land flora: a theory based upon the facts ie: 
alternation. 8yo, PP- xii+727. figs. 361. London: Macmillan and Co. 1908. $5-59 
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