BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, ETC, 867 
with alternate leaves’ (1 pl.). — G. C. Druce, ‘The Irish Carex 
ae & ee p. ae — W.&G. S. West, Erebus Algze 
of West Indies.’—C. B. Clarke, Carea Wahlenbergian 
Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschrift (J uly). —8. Murbeck, Epiiaie Hedini & 
G. cordisepala, spp. nn. — A. Zahlbruckner, ‘Neue und seltene 
Flechten aus Istrien.’ — J. Steiner, ‘ Flechten aus Armenien und 
dem Kaukasus.’—V. Folgner, ‘ Zur Kenntniss der Entwickelungs- 
geschichte einiger pi dae Peridineen.’—V. v. Borbas, ees. 
pratensis.—J. Murr, ‘ - Kenntniss der Gaitang "Capedla” (1 p 
Rhodora (J aly) = L. C. Whitney, ‘ Vermo : psomyeein — 
M. L. Fernald, Two ambiguous Lyaimsactiits (L pl.) 
BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, ¢ée. 
t the meeting of the Linnean ape on June 15th, Dr. A. B, 
Randle read a paper entitled ‘‘A Systematic Revision of the Genus 
Najas,”’ a primitive genus of monocotyledons containing about thirty 
known species, generally distributed in both Old and New Worlds, 
and meee : submerged herbs, often of great delicacy, growing 
in mud in fresh or brackish water. The slender stem branches 
ore or less sehaiy. and the laxity or density of branching 
determines the habit, which shows considerable variation. 
leaves are in pairs at each node; one member of the pair is slightly 
older than the other, and ir in its ail arises a branch. The flowers, 
ran 
upper the lateral branch, at the base of which the flower seems in 
the adult plant to stand. There is a difference of opinion as to the 
like that of the male. The seed has a hard testa, the detailed struc- 
ture of which — useful specific characters. Others are also 
furnished by t e shape of the leaf-sheath and the form of the 
marginal spines. 
*. Fo. SHELLEY’ s Chats about the Microscope, issued by ‘‘ The 
Scientific Press” (price 2s.), is specially addressed ‘*to the aimless 
pedestrians’’—the great majority who are in the habit of taking 
walks with no object in view. If only a few of these 
microscopic examination. The ee pr will no 
much help towards the elucidation of the object under Pel a 
as they are poor and not accompanied by descriptions, The standard 
