Igo] CURRENT LITERATURE 471 
these four families the author recognizes 15 genera and about 140 species. New 
species are published in Garrya and in Alangium; and several recently described 
species of Cornus have been incorporated and redescribed. The work is compre- 
hensive, conservative in generic and specific limitations, sce illustrated, 
and provided with excellent keys; it should serve as a valuable authentic 
guide in the taxonomic study of plants belonging to these sone groups. 
Part 42 embraces an exhaustive taxonomic treatment of the Euphorbia- 
ceae-Jatropheae by Professor F. Pax. The tribe comprises 12 genera, and to 
these are referred 196 species, of which 43, or approximately one-fourth, are 
new to science. One new genus is included, namely Neojatropha of eastern 
tropical Africa, where it is at present represented by two known species. 
second new genus (Ritchicophyton) is suggested and included in the key to the 
genera of the tribe, but publication of it is withheld for a subsequent fascicle 
dealing with this family. The group is treated in a masterly way, and numer- 
O 
Ritchieophyton) are paleotropic; and Jatropha, the largest of all the genera, 
extends throughout the equatorial belt. The two great centers of distribution 
of these plants in America are (1) in the region from Central America southward 
to Brazil and Paraguay, and (2). independently, in the West Indies.—J. M.- 
GREENMAN. 
A new flora of Congo.’—The present volume records all flowering plants of 
the Congo known up to the end of 1908, and includes a limited bibliography, 
citation of exsiccatae, and the vernacular names in many instances. The 
flora embraces a total of 3546 recognized species, of which 2826 belong to the 
dicotyledons, 717 to the monocotyledons, and 3 to the gymnosperms. 
last group is represented by.Gnetum africanum and two species of Encephalartos. 
The main elements of the flora, as represented by leading families, are as fol- 
lows: Leguminosae (415 species), Rubiaceae (299), Orchidaceae (152), Com- 
positae (148), Euphorbiaceae (144), Cyperaceae (139), and Gramineae (132). 
A very interesting tabulation is given showing the growth of our knowledge of 
the flora from 1896 to 1908. The work is well gogeeey but is entirely without 
keys to genera or species. Brief keys leading to the species, particularly in 
the case of the larger aie would have added ao to the usefulness 
of the book.—J. M. : 
Paleobotanical literature.—JONGMANS? has begun the publication of a very 
useful and a most laborious series, presenting a complete and well-organized 
8 DuRAND, THfopn, ET HEt., Sylloge Florae Congolanae. Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 
2:1~716, Bruxelles: Maison d’édition A. Castaigne. Albert de Boeck, Successeur. 
Igto, 
9 Joncmans, W. J., Die palaeobotanische Literatur. Vol. I. pp. iv+217. Jena: 
‘Gustav Fischer. 1910. M 7. 
