226 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MARCH 
“We can think of Marattia as having come from Angiopteris by the fusion of 
sporangia”; “the fertile spike of Botrychium is not a whole leaf, but only a branch 
of the foliage leaf”; ‘‘Marattiales and Cycadofilices are two branches differen- 
tiated from Primofilices.”’ 
The taxonomic groupings in certain particulars seem to be more original than 
necessary. The Sphaerocarpaceae, including as a tribe the Rielleae, appear 
among the Marchantiales; the Jungermanniales Anacrogynae have become the 
Metzgeriales, leaving the Acrogynae only as the Jungermanniales; and many 
novel arrangements appear in the Bryales, which cannot be stated in detail. Of 
course the vascular groups presented are all ‘‘Diploidales,” and the two principal 
divisions are the Biciliaten and the Polyciliaten. This naturally results not only 
in detaching Isoetes from the Lycopodiales, but also subordinates the boundary 
between pteridophytes and spermatophytes. There may be no objection to either 
of these results, but the single character used to secure them is more than 
questionable. 
The bibliography is copious, but by the method of its presentation it is repe- 
titious and not specific; nor is it so complete in its citations as one would expect 
from the editor of a bibliographical journal. The index is unfortunately double, 
but otherwise excellent, and puts the reader in easy command of the contents.— 
J. M. C. and C. K. B: 
MINOR NOTICES 
A flora of the Dutch West Indies.3—The first volume of this work deals with 
the flora of the islands of St. Eustatius, Saba, and St. Martin. The work is divided 
into three parts. The first part is concerned with taxonomy, the second presents 
a historical account of the flora, and the third deals with the phytogeography of 
the islands. The taxonomic portion is based mainly on the collections of SURIN- 
in accordance with the International Rules adopted at Vienna in 1905- 
taxonomy occupies the major part of the volume, covering over 200 pages, and 
consists of an enumeration of the species with reference to original publications, 
a very limited synonomy, and the citation of plants collected on the different 
islands. About 500 genera and approximately 800 species are recorded. ‘The 
second part contains interesting and important historical matter, particularly 
as to itineraries of collectors and lists of their plants. The third part embraces 
detailed information as to the natural features of the islands, a series of tables on 
distribution, a bibliography, and finally an index to vernacular and scientific 
3 BotpincH, I., The flora of the Dutch West Indian Islands St. Eustatius, Sab 
and St. Martin. Roy. 8vo. pp. xii+321. maps 3. Leiden: E. J. Brill. 1909- 
