167 



Again, the stamens were entirely aborted, but the carpels were 

 present, and then these were raised on a stipe, simulating the 

 Capparidaceae. These carpels were short-clavate, divided nearly 

 to the base, but not crested, two-celled, and infertile. Or the 

 pistil was represented by a pair of opposed, separated, linear 

 leaves, as much as 3-4 mm. long; or a pair of oblong, concave, 

 foliaceous organs inclosing a pair of shorter linear leaves. In 

 the last case the outer pair of leaves probably represent the cap- 

 sule and the inner pair the seeds. 

 San Bernardino, California. 



Britton's North American Trees* 



This large volume is one of the numbers of the American 

 Science Series that is being brought out by the publishers. The 

 purpose of this new series is so commendable that a knowledge 

 of it should be widely disseminated and brought to the attention 

 of the American people generally. It is designed to produce a 

 series of books that will make clear to those unacquainted with 

 nature not only living things but at the same time give them an 

 insight into the significance of their forms, their adaptive features 

 and their relation to the environment. The scope of the series 

 is indicated by such divisions as the following : I. Classification 

 of Nature, II. Functions of Nature, III. Realms of Nature, 

 IV. Working with Nature ; V. Man in Nature and Evolution. 



The Trees of North America comes under the first division in 

 which group work of a similar character upon fishes, insects, 

 seedless plants, mammals, and birds have already been issued. 



In the volume under consideration attention is given to all trees 

 growing independently of planting in North America, north of 

 .the West Indies and Mexico. Each species is illustrated by fig- 

 ures showing the important characteristics of the leaves, flowers, 

 and fruit, by which they may be identified. A very considerable 

 number of photogravures has been added to the above-mentioned 

 illustrations showing the general appearance or habit of certain 



* Britton, Nathaniel Lord, with the assistance of John Adolph Shafer. North 

 American Trees. Large 8 vo. x -j- 894. f. i-ySi. 1908. New York. Henry Holt 

 and Company. ^7. 



