Miscellanies. 177 



here to the corolla ; the two carpels which form the ovary are at first 

 distinct, and are united only at a later period. Dr. Grisebach makes 

 some observations upon the origin of the placenta, (the organ upon 

 which the ovules and seeds are produced,) which have an important 

 bearing upon some interesting questions in vegetable anatomy and 

 physiology, which are now undergoing a lively discussion, but which 

 would not be understood by many of the readers for whom these no- 

 tices are intended, without a moi-e extended statement of the questions 

 in dispute than we have here room to give.* In the account of the 

 geogi'aphical distribution of Gentianaceous plants, several interesting 

 general questions in botanical geography are discussed somewhat in 

 detail. The whole number of species described in the work (excluding 

 the very doubtful ones) is three hundred and forty three ; of which 

 fifty two are given as natives of North America ; the latter are thus 

 distributed among thirteen genera. 

 Tribe Chlore^e ; Sabbatia 11 species, and a single Chlora (?) 



" ErythrjEace^ ; Erythrcea 4, Cicendia 1 ? 



" SwertiejE ; Gentiana 22, Centaurella (Bartonia, Muhl.) 3, 

 Pleurogyne 1, Halenia 3, Frasera 3, Swertia 2. 



" MenyanthidejE ; Villarsia 1, Limnanthemum 1, [too few,] 

 Menyantkes 1. 



Three genera only are peculiar to this country, viz. Sabbatia, Cen- 

 taurella and Frasera. The name of Centaurella is still retained 

 for the, Bartonia of Muhlenberg and Willdenow, which is by several 

 years the oldest name, and should be retained, more especially since 

 the Bartonia of Nuttall and Pursh will doubtless be merged in Ment- 

 zelia. 



9. The Journal of Botany, containing- figures and descriptions of 

 such plants as recommend themselves by their novelty, rarity, his- 

 tory, or uses ; together with Botanical notices and information, and 

 occasional portraits and memoirs of deceased Botanists: by Sir 

 Wm. Hooker, K. H., &c. (Vol. II, Nos. 9 and 10, Febr. and March, 

 1840.) — Hooker's Journal of Botany, which was commenced in 1834, 

 but soon discontinued for want of sufficient patronage, is again re- 

 sumed, and is to be continued in monthly numbers. Each number 

 contains from fifty-two to fifty-six pages, and two plates, (published 

 by Longman, Orme & Co., London, at 2s. 6d.) The contents of 

 these two numbers are 



I. Musci Indici, or List of the mosses collected in the East Indies 

 by Dr. Wallich ; with references to the figures of the new species 



* We hope to give some notice of the recent progress of vegetable anatomy and 

 physiology, in the ensuing number. 

 Vol. XXXIX, No. 1.— April-June, 1840. 23 



