472 Scientific Intelligence. 



repeatedly from close field observations to yet more detailed 

 comparisons in the herbarium — an alternation of method by 

 which alone a good manual can be made. Prof. Jepson has also 

 taken pains to consult hundreds of types in the larger eastern 

 herbaria, thereby adding much to the accuracy and authority of 

 his work. The descriptions are full without such length as to 

 obscure differential characteristics. Their greatest merit, how- 

 ever, is that they are based upon personal familiarity with the 

 plants themselves, and the element of compilation, which cannot 

 be entirely excluded from any such work, is here reduced to a 

 minimum. There are also excellent and very complete keys 

 which, to judge from cursory examination, are much clearer than 

 in any work previously dealing with the flora of California. The 

 common names assigned are in many cases unfamiliar at least to 

 the Easterner and add a feature of interest from their originality 

 and imaginative character. Owl's Clover (Orthocarpus), Pop- 

 corn Flower (Plagiobotrys), Inside-out Flower (Vaucouveria), 

 Mule Fat (Baccharis), Hill Man Root (Echinocystis), and Milk- 

 maids (Dentaria), are examples. 



In the difficult matter of scientific nomenclature Prof. Jepson 

 has been eclectic, adopting, on the whole, a course by which he 

 has considerately avoided the making of new combinations or 

 adding to the existing confusion. In the arrangement of the 

 manual, the now generally approved sequence has been followed, 

 which is determined primarily by the degree of connation, adna- 

 tion, and irregularity of the floral parts. In this arrangement, 

 however, it seems to us that the author is in error in placing in 

 the ascending scale the Cichoriese before the Asteroidese and 

 other groups of the Composite in which zygoinorphy is much less 

 pronounced. While it is easy to see how the strongly zygomor- 

 phic corollas of the dandelion, for instance, have resulted from 

 the gradual modification of the tubular actinomorphic corolla, 

 the reverse development seems highly improbable. 



In no point does Prof. Jepson's work commend itself more 

 highly than in the excellent judgment which he shows in the 

 matter ot specified limits and in conserving intact certain large 

 and natural genera like Oenothera, Mimulus, etc., recently sub- 

 jected to a technical splitting as unpractical as it is artificial. 



B. L. R. 



7. Grand Rapids Flora ; by Emma J. Cole. Pp. 17, royal 

 8vo, with map. Grand Rapids, Mich., 1891. — Miss Cole's recently 

 issued catalogue of the flowering plants and ferns of Grand 

 Rapids records 1290 species growing within an area 24 miles 

 square. In the sequence of families Engler &d Prantl's great work 

 has been followed. In this respect, as in other matters, the cata- 

 logue exhibits advanced methods and possesses an up-to-date 

 character. It is evident that no small care has been given to 

 recent segregations of species since the results of such work are 

 recorded with considerable discrimination. The scientific nomen- 

 clature is wisely conservative, without entire adherence to any 



