316 INDEX GENERUM PHANEROGAM ARUM. 



esting chapters on the subject of degeneracy, in which it is gratify- 

 ing to find that some of the too little known researches of Mr. G. 

 F. White on pollens are utilised. There are, of course, some 

 slight defects, such as misprints and inaccuracies in scientific 

 nomenclature, and an occasional haziness of expression, probably 

 originating in the author's fulness of the subject, and forgetfulness 

 that his readers cannot know what is in his mind, only what falls 

 from his pen : but these blemishes will doubtless be removed in a 

 second impression. Like the other volumes of the valuable series 

 to which it belongs, the ' Origin of Floral Structure' is well 

 printed, well illustrated, handy and cheap ; and is deserving of a 

 place in the library of even the humblest British botanist, who will 

 find a fresh interest given to his observations by searching for facts 

 which may throw light on this important subject, and tend to cor- 

 roborate or disprove the ingenious theory which Prof. Henslow 

 modestly describes as "at most only a 'working hypothesis' for 

 future investigations. ,, Percy Myles. 



Index Generum Phanerogamarum usque ad Jinem anni 1887 prormdga- 



torum in Benthami et Hooked * Genera Plantanun ' fundatus 

 cum numero specierum synonymis et area geographica comcripsit 



Th. Durand subcustos' Herb. Hort. Bot. Publ. Bruxellensis. 

 London: Dulau. 8vo, pp. xxii., 723. £1 Is. 



This is a noteworthy addition to the limited number of books 

 which may be regarded as indispensable to the systematic botanist : 

 indeed, it is perhaps more really entitled to that epithet than any 

 volume which has appeared since the ■ Genera,' upon which it is 

 based. Here, in small space, we have a condensed history of all 

 the genera of flowering plants, or rather, we have their names, 

 with an indication showing where their history may be found. It 

 is thus of value to the humbler student, whose shelves are few and 

 already well-nigh filled, and who, with this at his elbow, can 

 readily obtain references to works which he will be able to consult 

 m our large botanical libraries ; and it forms an index and a supple- 

 ment to the ' Genera Plantarum.' Many helpers have combined 

 to render M. Durand's work a success ; but the labour imposed 

 on him must nevertheless have been very great, and the 

 thoroughness with which the plan has been carried out reflects 

 the highest credit upon him. 



Every one must have felt the need of some reference list of the 

 additions which have been made to our knowledge of plants since the 

 publication of Bentham and Hooker's great work, the first part of 

 which was issued in 1862. Those who prudently interleaved their 

 copy of that book have in some measure supplied this want 

 for themselves, but botanical literature is so extensive that private 

 individuals can hardly take stock of it all. The additions in some 

 orders are inconsiderable, in others there are none ; but there are 

 those in which the number of generic types has been very largely 

 increased, as in Anonacea, where the 40 genera of Bentham and 

 Hooker are augmented by 21 ; in Sapotacem (the genera of which 



