394 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [NOVEMBER 
of the vascular plants of Washington and to call attention to the more important 
problems, both taxonomic and ecological, which have become disclosed.” The 
plan of the work is practically that of Dr. RyDBERG’s, namely a list of species with 
synonymy, range, etc., but with simple keys for general identification. The 
views as to the limitations of genera and species, however, are much more con- 
rvative, the author making the rotted interesting remarks: “It is at least 
é ubtful if the very large number of new names thus occasioned does not more 
than counterbalance any advantage ose in favor of the practice. Certainly 
the carrying of the practice to such an extreme that genera are considered to be 
made up of species of similar habit, rather than to be based on structural char- 
acter, seems inadvisable. Neither does it impress one as a valid argument that, 
because in some extremely natural families the genera must perforce be based 
on very slight differences, similar characters must be given equal consideration 
in all families. _ The pages given to an account of the botanical explorers of 
of the physiographic features of the flora. The “annotated catalogue” com- 
prises a very long list of vascular plants, and it is interesting to note that 185 
of them are endemic, two of the genera included in the list (Rainiera and Hes- 
perogenia) being monotypic. The number of gymnosperms is almost exactly 
that given above for Colorado, but the pteridophytes are more numerous, a list 
of 64 being given—J. M. C 
AN INTRODUCTION to plant physiology by the LinsBAvERs® is very welcome 
and it is to be hoped that an English edition will be prepared. While too elab- 
orate for our secondary schools at present, and yet too elementary for higher 
students, the work contains a great deal that may be efficiently adapted to any 
first course. The diction is semipopular. The first commendable feature 
one notes is the logical arrangement of the topics. The ex riments (nearly 
300) accompany the text, in fact are really a part of it. Following each chapter 
is a series of problems for independent investigation, so that each chapter first 
equips the student for independent work and then suggests that he do some as 
indicated. The difficult topics of semipermeability, osmosis, etc., are skilfully 
approached by preliminary experimentation with imbibition phenomena. Phys- 
ical explanations involving such saree subjects as solution-tension are very 
properly omitted. The treatment of some processes is far from modern. 
combustion conception of respiration is 6 ealaed Photosynthesis is called 
“assimilation” and contrasted with respiration, which is also given the name of 
“dissimilation.” This is a very unfortunate confusion of both terms and ideas. 
Of the seventy-eight cuts of the text proper, seven illustrate apparatus original 
in design.—Raymonp H. Ponp. 
3 — Lupwic, und LinsBavER, Karl, Borschule der Pflanzenhpysi- 
ologie. Eine experimentale Einfiihrung in das Leben der Pflanzen. 8vo. Pp-— 
figs. o Carl Konegen, Vienna. 1906. 
