418 Scientific Intelligence. 



1. Handbook of the Amaryllideoe, including the Alstrcemeriece 

 and Ac/avece ; by J. G. Baker, F.R.S., [London, 1888, 8vo, 

 pp. 216.] — In his long service at Kew, the first assistant in the 

 Herbarium has had exceptional opportunities for studying the 

 plants of this order in their living state. The handbook which he 

 now publishes comprises the notes which have been long accu- 

 mulating, together with many which he has published from time to 

 time in current journals. The number of species included is not 

 far from 700, and of genera 61. Two orders assigned to Amaryl- 

 lidese are omitted, namely, Hypoxideoe, containing 66, and Vel- 

 losieae, 68 species. Of the species here described, about 250 are 

 Old-world species in 31 genera, and 450 are New-world species in 

 30 genera. The author has not taken up to any great extent the 

 garden hybrids which are so abundant in this order, nor has he 

 alluded to the cultivation of the species, but the work is of great 

 use to cultivators as well as to working botanists. g. l. g. 



8. Synoptical List of North American Species of Geanothus ; 

 by Wm. Trelease. (Contrib. from Shaw School of Botany. 

 No. 4. June 15, 1888, pp. 13). — Geanothus L. ; by C. C. Parry, 

 (Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sci., read Dec. 28, 1888, pp. 13). — Dr. 

 Parry's revision of this genus differs in many pai'ticulars from 

 that by Professor Trelease. Both the communications are impor- 

 tant contributions to systematic botany and serve, besides, to 

 show how differently two conscientious students may regard the 

 same problem. A compai'ison of the two papers brings up again 

 the question of how far adaptive characters are to be considered 

 in the determination of affinities : the adaptive characters being, 

 of course, those which press themselves most prominently upon 

 the attention in the field. 



In Dr. Parry's paper there is given an interesting addition to 

 the list of projectile fruits which we copy entire. "The fruit, 

 which so strongly simulates in external appearance some of the 

 Euphorbiaceous genera as to have suggested a near relationship, 

 though not carried out in other points, varies considerably in size, 

 its smooth or resinously coated exocarp and its accessory appen- 

 dages, but has otherwise very uniform characters of seed and 

 pericarp. A fact not often noticed, but which is probably more 

 or less true of all species, is that the rigid cocci, when re- 

 leased from their attachment to the indurated disc, expel their 

 smooth-coated seeds through the ventral slit with considerable 

 force. I have had occasion lately to notice this, even in herba- 

 rium specimens of nearly mature fruit, which, when brought into 

 a warm apartment, revealed their explosive nature by' a continu- 

 ous, fusilade, till the ammunition was all expended and the frag- 

 ments of the ruptured pericarp alone left to determine their carp- 

 ological features. The manifest utility of this provision for dis- 

 seminating seeds will largely account for the gregarious habit of 

 most of the species, and no doubt, also serves as a protection 

 against the aggression of omnivorous rodents." G. l. g. 



