508 Scientific Intelligence. 
typic Leitneria, hitherto known with certainty only in Florida, 
but now discovered in the lowlands of southeastern Missouri. 
Mr. Jared G. Smith contributes a revision of the North Ameri- 
can species of Sagittaria and Lophotocarpus, describing rather 
more than twenty of the former. He also, in a separate paper, 
notes a few facts relative to some new or little known species. 
Mr. Herbert J. Webber publishes some striking observations 
regarding the dissemination of certain species of Yucca, and 
comments on its relation to leaf-reflexion. Mr. B. F. Bush con- 
tributes interesting notes in regard to the plants which occur on 
the mounds in Atchison county, Missouri. The illustrations by 
Miss Johnson are, like those from her pencil in previous reports, 
remarkably spirited as well as accurate. G. L. G. 
2. Index Kewensis.—An enumeration of the genera and species 
of flowering plants from the time of Linnaeus to the year 1885 
inclusive, together with their authors’ names, the works in which 
they were first published, their native countries and their syno- 
nyms; compiled at the expense of the late Robert Charles Darwin, 
under the direction of Joseph D. Hooker, by B. Daydon Jackson. 
Part IV, Oxford, Clarendon Press. 1895. 
This part finishes the treatise which botanists in all depart- 
ments owe to the generosity of Mr. Darwin. Sir Joseph Hooker 
gives in the preface the following interesting account of the 
inception of the work: 
“Shortly before his death, Mr. Darwin informed me of his 
intention to devote a considerable sum in aid of the furtherance 
of some work of utility to biological science; and to provide for 
its completion should this not be accomplished during his lifetime. 
He further informed me that the difficulties he had experienced 
in accurately designating the many plants which he had studied 
and ascertaining their native countries had suggested to him the 
compilation of an index to the names and authorities of all known 
flowering plants and their countries as a work of supreme 
importance to students of systematic and geographical botany, 
and to horticulturists, and as a fitting mode of fulfilling his inten- 
tions. 
““T have only to add that at his request I undertook to direct 
and supervise such a work, and that it is being carried out at the 
Herbarium of the Royal Gardens, Kew, with the aid of the staff 
of the establishment.” 
Even taking into account the errors both of date and name 
which unavoidably creep into a nomenclator planned on a scale 
so broad as to comprehend the generic and specific appellations 
bestowed during almost a century and a half, this work has fully 
carried out the liberal intentions of its patron. It is, as he pre- 
dicted, indeed of supreme importance to the students of botany in 
every field. It is, moreover, a lasting monument to the sagacity 
of Sir Joseph Hooker, who framed the page with full regard to 
convenience and rapidity of reference, and, lastly, it gives 
evidence, throughout, of conscientious work on the part of Mr. 
Jackson and his associates. G. L. G. 
