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Geology and Natural TTY: 493 
“apeaaes of special interest to the botanist; aie the flower- 
ing time of the plants and its variation in different years; tabu- 
Item ‘ed discusses the statistics of the flora; speaities the sixteen 
largest orders* (these furnishing 55 per cent ‘of the genera and 62 
per cent of the species), also the 15 larger genera (beginning Alas 
Curex and ending with Asclepia) ; mentions the number of intro- 
duced species (198, pe Oe hich: 15 are eee of the United Ste 
to find that the proenee forest trees, smaller trees, shrubs, 
woody climbers, and the more souepiineus herbaceous species are 
in turn enumerated, There are some critical and more explana- 
it is a mistake to say that, in the New Genera Plantarum, “ Va- 
lerianella has been made oubxeonsiee with Fedia. European 
authors almost without exception keep up the two genera, it 
Seems to us without good reason. Stedronemu was not adopted 
in that work only because the authors did not know the peculiar 
zstivation of the corolla; it was adopted here upon the discovery 
of this character.) Ther re are good remarks upon common names, 
i, e. vernacular names; and it is well said ‘that the best common 
name for a plant is always its systematic name, eee this should 
be made a substitute for other popular na whenever and 
where ver it can be done.” We have come to agre e with DeC 
Exceptions there may be, where a generic name may be aptly 
translated, but these are few 
The flora itself makes up only about 80 pages of this volume. 
it is a catalogue, without characters or synonymy,—these being 
at hand in the manuals: and proper floras,—but with localities, 
time of flow many particular observ ations. It should 
essentially facilitate on a ier the study of botany in and > 
around the District of Colum 
Following the flora is a ‘ “check list,” with piney itor 
ends with pone remarks on herbarinm work; all BRS ‘clear 
and instructive. Great is the need of such Seranlion: especialiy 
to young United States officers and others who make botanical 
* The Se eight are Composite, 53 gen., 149 sp.; ifort ge 110; Cyper- 
an, 10, 108; Leguminose, 24, 51; capes 15, 46; Labiate, 2 
