242 
THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
159 ; 1902) ; but it occurs also in Grand Canary (Webb, Phytogr. iii. 
169 ; Pitard et Proust, lies Canaries, Flore, 267).—T. A. Spraghje. 
Orchis hircina L. On July 21st we had the good fortune to 
come upon a fine specimen of the Lizard Orchis on the outskirts of 
a wood near Wye. The plant, two feet six inches in height, was in 
full bloom and contained over 30 “ lizards ” on the nine-inch spike ; 
it was growing in a tangle of privet and bramble. I understand that 
this is the third specimen of this rare orchid that has been found in 
the Ashford and Wye district this season.—A. B. Cobbe. 
REVIEWS. 
Plant and Flower Forms : Studies of typical Forms of Plants and 
Plant Organs. By Esther J. G. Kirkwood. 8vo plates. 4to. 
Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd. London, 1923. Price 7s. Gd. net. 
Miss Kirkwood has produced a novel aid to the study of the 
form and life-history of a number of common flowering plants. In a 
series of SO plates she has depicted, first, the important features of 
thirty-one plants, representing sixteen families; the greater part 
of the plate is occupied by analyses of the flower and fruit, and the 
floral diagram is also included. Then follow in succession series 
illustrating types of pollination, fruit- and seed-dispersal, germination, 
and vegetative reproduction. There are also studies of six familiar 
trees, various t}^pes of spines, and different forms of climbing plants. 
The studies should prove a boon to the teacher of elementary botany 
in schools; but the student should not be allowed to see them—at any 
rate, until he or she has attempted to make a similar series from the 
actual plant. There is a danger that the drawings may be allowed 
to take the place of sketches made by the student, thus seriously 
diminishing the value of an elementary study of the living plant. 
The text is restricted to explanatory words and short paragraphs 
inserted with the sketches. In the titles of the plates the author has 
used merely the common name; the botanical name might perhaps 
also have been added. In one case the common name is botanically 
misleading, namely “ Smilax,” which is the trade-name for a species 
of Asparagus. 
The drawings and explanatory text are very clearly printed, and 
the paper is said to have been specially selected to allow of tinting in 
water-colour. The book, which is in every way attractive, has the 
additional advantage of being exceedingly cheap. 
_A. B. R. 
Poisonous Plants of All Countries. By A. Bernhard-Smith, late 
House-Surgeon to Lord Lister, etc. Second Edition, Cr. 8vo, 
cloth, pp. xii, 112; 185 figures in text. Price 6s. n. London: 
Bailliere, Tindal, & Cox. 
We do not quite understand the object of this curious little book, 
and the author does not enlighten us. It consists of short descriptions 
of plants, grouped in accordance with their effects, the main divisions 
being into plants acting on the brain, the spinal cord, and the heart, 
followed by irritant poisons and specific irritants. The Latin names 
are followed by the English ones; the author acknowledges his 
