PONE SE OS SS See ap agi 
1897 | CURRENT LITERATURE 14! 
holophytic, of so great taxonomic value as differences of structure. Green 
and colorless species should in some cases be put together, even within the 
limits of the same genus, as the author does in the case of Schizothrix, for 
example. Six families are recognized, the “bacteria” occurring in three of 
them, but the great majority are included in the second, the Oscillariacea.— 
ce c. 
N THE CONTINUATION of his studies upon flowers and insects,’ Mr. 
Charles Robertson has presented results obtained from investigations of 
Hepatica, Asimina, Podophyllum, Solea, Euonymus, A2sculus, Astragalus, 
Stylosanthes, Gymnocladus, Spirea, Gillenia, Viburnum, Symphoricarpos, 
Aster, Silphium, Heliopsis, Rudbeckia, and Cacalia. 
In this same connection it may be noted that Mr. J. Lloyd Williams has 
called attention to the intoxication of bumblebees by the nectar of certain 
“capitulate” plants (Centaurea and Carduus), and suggests that their help- 
less rolling covers them effectually with pollen, which upon their recovery is 
carried to other heads.—J. M. C. 
ITEMS OF TAXONOMIC INTEREST are as follows: Mr. E. B. Uline has pub- 
lished a revision of the Mexican and Central American species of Dioscorea.® 
Mr. George Massee has redescribed many of the Berkeley types of fungi.” 
Mrs. E. G. Britton has enumerated” the Bolivian mosses collected by H. H. 
Rusby in 1885-6, among which are 42 species either new or previously 
undescribed. Mr. E. P. Bicknell has published an account of the North 
American species of Agrimonia,” in which he shows that 4. Eufatoria L., 
not known as an American plant, has long given its name to a group of 
related species, five of which he characterizes, reviving old names in every 
case excepting for 4. Brittoniana. Dr. T. F. Allen has described three new 
species of Nite//a,3 two from Japan, and one from Indian Territory. Profes- 
sor E. L. Greene, in his last fascicle of studies,* discusses Cardamine and 
Dentaria, suggesting a new definition of the genera; proposes a new crucif- 
erous genus, Schenocrambe, based upon plants that have been referred vari- 
name Lrysimum untenable and substitutes for it the name CAciranthus, 
: Fenasing the species; discusses further the acaulescent violets; and con- 
7 Trans. St. Louis Acad. Sci. 7: 151-179. 1896. 
‘Jour. Bot. 35:8-11. 1897. | | 
**See under Mryor NOTICES, p. 132. 
ee under Minor Notices, p. 133. 
_ ™Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 23 : 508~523. ‘pl. 282-283. 23. 1896. 
_ “Bull. Torr. Bot, Club 23: : 533-536. pl. 28p-28 1896. 
Pinas #5 140. 1896. 
