196 
The Flora of the Clyde Area 
On going to press the Secretary has received for review 
this very useful book whose sub-title is A Handbook of the 
Flowering Plants and Ferns occurring wild or established 
within the drainage area of the River and Firth of Clyde. By 
John R. Lee, and published by John Smith & Son (Glasgow) 
Ltd., 1933. — 7/6 net. 
Nearly 400 pages of neatly printed matter, with descriptions 
of the species and genera, etc. is preceded by a helpful and 
interesting Introduction. In regard to the question of 
nomenclature the author “ feels that the avoidance of 
confusion and inconvenience is a matter of more practical 
importance than mere conformity.” Probably few would 
disagree with him, in a work of this kind. 
On the question of classification and arrangement we are 
told that in Britain a reaction has set in, tending towards an 
approximation to the older system of De Candolle rather than 
that of Engler and Prantl. So a compromise has again been 
made by Mr. Lee, for he has “ adapted the sequence of groups 
and orders to the general principle of Hutchinson’s system, 
while departing as little as possible from the arrangement 
hitherto familiar to British students.” And Apetalae has 
been abolished as a separate group. 
The enormous Clyde area comprises the whole of Lanark, 
Renfrew, Dumbarton and Bute ; large parts of Ayrshire, 
Stirlingshire and Argylle, a portion of W. Perth, and small 
fragments of four other counties. We read that hitherto the 
most complete record of the occurrence and distribution of 
plants within the district is the Glasgow Catalogue compiled 
by the late Peter Ewing, F.L.S., who was an original member 
of this Club. 
This neatly bound little volume (Tin. xoin.) is easily 
carried about, and it doubtless will have a very large sale. 
We think that even a small-scale map of the large area would 
have been a useful addition. 
H. S. THOMPSON. 
