

282 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [September 



the basis of classification is essentially static, and ignores the genetic relation- 

 ships of both the habitats and the formations. Consequently, proximity in 

 the resulting scheme of classification does not necessarily imply near relation- 

 ship, nor wide separation a lack of connection. 



The second part contains a summary of observations on the influence of 

 the various ecological factors. These include the usual factors classified as 

 climatic, physical and chemical, and biotic. 



The means of dispersal, the geographic distribution of the various families 

 of algae, the algal populations of various formations, and the periodicity of the 

 algal flora form the topics of the last division of the memoir. The discussion 

 of periodicity is largely drawn from Comere's previous paper on this subject. 

 The division of the algal flora into vernal, estival, autumnal, and hyemal 

 groups, it should be noted, is really a characterization of the seasons by means 

 of algal reproduction, rather than a classification of algae on the basis of their 

 seasonal phenomena. With regard to the concentration of natural waters, the 

 usual assumption is made that there exists an inverse relation between the 

 height of the water level and the concentration. This leaves out of account 



■ 



the removal of solutes by the adsorption and subsequent settling of the solid 

 particles in these waters, which it seems is much more important in determin- 

 ing concentration than changes in volume. But these points to which excep- 

 tion may be taken are few compared with the great number of topics discussed. 

 — E. N. Transeau. 



British North Borneo.— Miss Gibbs 7 has published a notable contribution 

 dealing with the flora of North Borneo. The first part deals with the ecological 

 features of a most interesting region. The general character of the country 

 is discussed, as to its orography and meteorology, and also the general plant- 

 formations under the titles " secondary formations" and "primary forest." A 

 very full itinerary makes the aspects of the flora vivid; and there is a special 

 description of the plant formations on Mt. Kinabalu, the highest mountain of 

 the Malay Archipelago, which was first ascended in 185 1 by a botanist, Sir 

 Hugh Low, then colonial secretary of Labuan. 



In the systematic account (184 pp.) of the remarkably large collection of 

 plants made in January to March 1010, Miss Gibbs has had the assistance of 



several specialists. 



lga 



seed plants. Descriptions of about 85 new species, well distributed throughout 

 the families of seed plants, are published, including the following new genera: 

 Phyllocrater and Cawiea (Rubiaceae), Sigmatochilus (Orchidaceae) , and Lopho- 

 schoenus (Cyperaceae). As might be expected, Orchidaceae secure the largest 

 representation of new species, 21 in number. Elatostema illustrates how a 



' Gibbs, Lilian S. ? A contribution to the flora and plant formations of Mount 



Kinabalu and the Highlands of British North Borneo. Jour. Linn. Soc. Bot. 42 : i-H* 

 Jigs. 8. pis. 1-8. 19 14. 



