239 



field and in publication has enormously increased the known 

 species during the years since Porter and Coulter's Flora of Col- 

 orado (1872) and Coulter's Manual of the Botany of the Rocky 

 Mountain Region (1885) appeared. The work now before us 

 lists 2,900 species, distributed in 700 genera. Though the list 

 is based upon the collection at Ft. Collins, yet many other col- 

 lections were consulted, and practically all the literature dealing 

 with that field was reviewed. 



While the work is not a " manual," it is more than a mere 

 "list." Analytical keys are given throughout, including one to 

 the orders. The species are listed under the scientific name, 

 without description, followed by a Hst of the localities. The 

 altitude is frequently indicated but collectors and specimens are 

 not cited. 



It need scarcely be said that the order of sequence is that of 

 Engler and Prantl, but in the genera recognized there is a con- 

 siderable departure from that standard work. Whether segrega- 

 tion has yet reached its limit remains to be seen, but Astragalus 

 (of the old-time limits) has expanded into 17 genera ; Ritbiis into 

 3 ; Goitinna into 4, and has itself entirely disappeared. Many 

 other segregations might easily be cited. Fortunately, however, 

 the principal recent synonyms follow the many unfamiliar names 

 that appear, making the list comprehensible without search for 

 the original publication. Since the Flora must be of service 

 principally to the trained systematist, it would have facilitated 

 his work if the citation of the binomial used had been given. 



It would be an easy matter to take exception to species in- 

 cluded, to species excluded, to synonymy indicated, to violations 

 of the law of priority, but the fact that remains is of far greater 

 significance, viz., that a very difficult piece of work has been done 

 remarkably well. The botanical fraternity of the west owes Dr. 

 Rydberg a deep debt of gratitude, and the officers of the Colorado 

 Agricultural College are to be congratulated on the high quality 

 of the work in systematic botany that they are able to place 

 before the public. 



AvEN Nelson. 

 University of Wyoming, 

 Laramie. 



