VORTRAGE UBER BOTANISCHE STAMMESGESCHICHTE 203 
characters of the species, resulting in a splitting up of the type 
into multiple and distinct forms which are sometimes of a regres- 
enables us to reconstitute the evolution of the genus Zea, and to 
establish the fact that the wild ancestor of the cultivated Maize is 
the species Huchlena mexicana. The genus Zea is a monstrous 
u igi and pro- 
pagated by the agency of man... The facts in their entirety 
are ie eoeals and interesting conclusions reached 
by the i a as a result of his extended experimental investi- 
gations. 
There is a well-nigh exhaustive list of literature bearing on the 
subject, oe eight plates from excellent photographs. oo 
Vortrige iiber Botanische Stammesgeschichte. Ester Band: Algen 
~ pe . 828 pp. J. P. Lorsy. Jena: 1907. 
s the first instalment of a work which Dr. Lotsy has in 
consists rs a course of ‘ Vorlesungen,” and, as we learn from the 
preface the reproduction of lectures actually given by the 
_ ae the students of the Universities of Leyden and Utrecht. 
extends over reas hundred octavo pages, and is profusely 
illnstrated throughout. 
e who are engaged in the teaching of botany in this 
country, and who find it “Sparse difficult to cover the whole 
vast field of ornare Morphology, ane Physiology within the 
limits of a two years’ course, during which the student is usually 
engaged in the study of one or more es scientific subjects as 
well as Botany, will look forward with interest to the p craer rts 
of Dr. Lotsy’s er volumes, in order to see how —< 
the phylogeny of the whole Vegetable Kingdom may be Soltrpanaed 
within the limits of a single session. For the course here ny 8 
to dispose of the Archegoniates and the Phanerogam: 
Probably no two persons would agree as to the eliaive amount 
of time which should be ro to the three groups of plants into 
which Dr. Lotsy propose: subdivide the whole for the purpose 
of this work, but it is nals that few will consider that either 
the Archegoniates or the Phanerogams can be = uately dealt 
with in two courses of thirty calante each. 
