496 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [DECEMBER 
with 84 species, followed by Carex, Celmisia (Compositae), Coprosma (Rubi- 
aceae), Ranunculus, Olearia (Compositae), etc. Numerous new species are 
described and a new genus (Townsonia) of Orchidaceae is established. The 
most remarkable fact is that of the 1571 species 1143 are endemic, nearly three- 
fourths of the entire flora. Of the 428 species found elsewhere, 366 extend to 
Australia, and 108 to South America. This almost complete “‘strangeness’’ 
of the flora to botanists who are familiar with the north temperate floras and 
who have even visited the tropics, gives it a fascination suggestive of just as 
strange results if such material could be made available in their laboratories.— 
MC 
MINOR NOTICES. 
Development of fern leaves.—MArcarer Stossow has brought together in 
an elaborate book a remarkable series of observations upon the development 
of fern leaves.? She has selected nineteen representative species from north- 
eastern United States, and illustrated them by forty-six handsome plates repro- 
duced from photographs. . A preliminary chapter contains a general description 
of the development of form and venation, often showing remarkable changes 
in passing from the juvenile to the mature form. In the subsequent chapters 
each species is first described in its mature form, and then follows a very detailed 
description of the transition forms from the juvenile stage. The possible range 
of leaf variation is also considered. The book contains a mass of suggestive 
observations, which should serve as a check to any characterization of species 
from insufficient material, and as a demonstration that the numerous “form 
species” of fossil “ferns” are more than doubtful. The book is more of a contri- 
bution than its elaborate form would suggest.—J. M. C 
Portraits of botanists.—D6rr.er, editor of Botaniker-Adressbuch, has issued 
the first two parts of a proposed series of portraits of botanists. Each part 
contains ten portraits, g9X12.5°", which are phototype reproductions upon 
fine art cards, each card also bearing the signature of the botanist in fac- 
simile. The cards are loose, being ready to frame and worthy of it. It is announced 
that 100 portraits, with title page and index, will form a volume. A grape of 
text accompanies each portrait, giving the most important biographical data 
and bibliography. Each part ao 5 marks to subscribers; single portraits 
can be obtained for 1 mark; and 10 selected portraits for 8 marks. The first 
part contains portraits of Kkewen, Wiesner. WARMING, ENGLER, DEVRIES, 
Guicnarn, Scurérer, Martrroto, Witte, and WettsTEIN; = second 
part, Frres, (Elias and Theodor), Prerrer, Boropin, HACKEL, SCOTT, 
GOEBEL, ERRERA, CHopat, and keno, The address is J. DORFLER, aoe 
36, Wien, ITI.—J. M. C. 
7 SLosson, Marcaret, How ferns grow. 8vo. viiit+156. New York: Henry 
Holt & Cauniy. 1906. 
