218 



Hooker i:^ Baker's Synopsis \Fificuiii (1867-74), by omitting 

 most synonyms and most species not represented in the Kew 

 herbarium, does not account for more than two thirds of the 

 species now recognized as vahd from^among those pubHshed be- 

 fore 1874; and (2) because the unwonted activity in fern study 

 in the last generation has resulted in adding nearly two thirds as 

 many more species to the list as were recognized in 1 874. Baker* 

 attempted to supply this latter deficiency in 1891 in a list of 

 about 1,100 species described between 1874 and 1891, but these 

 were arranged in accordance with the Kew conception of specific 

 sequence, instead of alphabetically, and the work has always 

 been difficult for rapid consultation. Since 1891 more species 

 have been described than in any corresponding period since 

 species-writing commenced. 



At last, we have the beginning of a modern, accurate index of 

 the ordeis Ophioglossales, Marattiales, and Filicales, and the 

 five fascicles (320 pages) already published promise to furnish a 

 much more valuable reference book for the fern students than the 

 corresponding Index Kczvensis has proved for students of the 

 higher plants, largely because it is being prepared by a fern 

 specialist who is familiar not only with fern literature but with 

 ferns themselves. It gives in alphabetical sequence all names 

 published under each genus, using practically the American 

 system of citation and referring synonyms to the proper genera 

 in the same line. From an American standpoint, the work lacks 

 only one element to make it complete and that is the citation 

 of the t}'pc collection number or type locality of the original 

 species described, but this was too much to expect, from a Euro- 

 pean standpoint .since the importance of the problem of type 

 localities has not yet permeated pAiropean taxonomy as it is sure 

 to do in the near future. 



The work is an essential to every student of ferns, and should 

 be in every botanical librar)'. It is the more important that 

 friends of botany should see that subscriptions arc placed in 



* Haker, (. O. A summary of llie New Kerns wliich linvc l)ccn tliscovcred t)r de- 

 scribed since 1874. Oxford, 1892. [Ori^;inally pulilislicd in Annals of Hotany, 5: 

 181-221, 301-332, 455-500- 189I.] 



