21 7 
Notice of Book . 
flowers that were too young having been examined, have been un- 
fortunately described by Hasskarl as two-celled with parallel cells ; it 
is doubtless this unhappy misapprehension that has led both De 
Candolle and Miquel to look upon Anthocoma as a Gomphostemma , 
and that has obscured so completely and so long the true affinities of 
Zollinger’s plant. 
DAVID PRAIN, Calcutta. 
NOTICE OF BOOK. 
E. STRASBURGER : UEBER DEN BAU UND DIE VER- 
RICHTUNGEN DER LEITUNGSBAHNEN IN DEN 
PFLANZEN. Histologische Beitrage, III ; Jena, Fischer, 
1891. 
Professor Strasburger, who for many years devoted himself almost 
exclusively to the investigation of the problems of minute histology, 
has in the present work made the most important recent contribution 
to the anatomy and physiology of vascular plants. If some of his 
former researches may claim a wider interest, as dealing with questions 
which are common to both the organic kingdoms, his latest book is, 
from a purely botanical point of view, of at least equal importance. 
This is owing, not only to the value of the special results attained, but 
also to the fact that this book presents the most striking example 
in botanical literature of combined anatomical and physiological 
investigation. 
As a rule the anatomist and the physiologist work independently. 
The former either tends to ignore function altogether, or perhaps is 
too ready to infer function from structural evidence alone, without the 
test of experiment. The physiologist on the other hand has often 
trusted too exclusively to experimental methods, and has perhaps 
even treated anatomical details with a certain contempt. There are 
few men who are capable of equal success in both directions ; among 
these few Prof. Strasburger is the most distinguished. 
The motive of the book, and the point of view of the author, are 
made clear in the preface. Some years ago Prof. Strasburger began 
