Am.  Tour.  Pharm. 
June,  1879 
Reviews,  etc. 
333' 
various  reports,  render  this  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  important  ones  published 
by  the  Association.  Non-members  will  be  supplied  with  copies,  bound,  at  $7.50 
each,  by  the  permanent  Secretary,  J.  M.  Maisch. 
Cinchona.    Arteny  Hjbriden  und  Cultur  der  Chininbaume.    Von  Dr.  Otto  Kuntze. 
Leipzig.    Verlag  von  H.  Haessel.     1878.    8vo,  pp.  124,  and  three  phototypes. 
Cinchona.    Species,  hybrids  and  culture  of  the  quinine-trees. 
It  is  well  known  that  the  different  species  of  cinchona,  as  they  are  usually  enu- 
merated in  works  on  Botany  and  on  Materia  Medica,  present  so  many  variations  of 
the  botanical  characters  that  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  exactly  define  the  limits  of 
these  species,  all  of  which  appear  to  be  mDre  or  less  connected  by  intermediate 
forms.  It  is  also  known  that  when  under  cultivation  hybrids  are  very  easily  pro 
duced.  The  author  had  occasion  to  make  observations  at  the  cinchona  plantations 
of  Java  and  the  Himalayas,  and,  comparing  them  with  those  made  by  the  directors 
and  superintendents  of  the  plantations,  arrives  at  the  conclusion  that  the  number  of 
species  of  cinchona  must  be  very  materially  reduced,  and  that  nearly  all  the  species 
as  hitherto  recognized  should  be  regarded  as  hybrids.  This  view  is  strengthened 
after  a  critical  examination  of  the  works  of  Ruiz  and  Pavon,  Lambert,  Weddell 
and  others,  the  author  pointing  out  in  each  case  the  typical  forms,  by  the  hybridi- 
zation of  which  the  supposed  species  have  been  produced.  The  species  are  reduced 
to  four,  for  which  the  following  nomenclature  is  proposed  : 
1.  Cinchona  Weddelliana.  This  agrees  with  C.  calisaya  of  Weddell  in  part  5  five 
varieties,  differing  somewhat  in  the  shape  and  venation  of  the  leaves,  are  described. 
2.  C.  Pavoniana  is  C.  micrantha,  Weddell. 
3.  C.  Houoardiana  is  C.  succirubia,  Pavon. 
4.  C,  Pahudiana,  Howard. 
The  phototypes  give  representations  of  these  four  species  with  fruit,  of  a  form 
produced  bv  the  hybridization  of  all  four  species,  and  of  numerous  leaves  from  C. 
officinalis,  Lin.  (s.  C.  condaminea,  Humb  )=C.  Pavoniani-Weddelliana,  Kuntze, 
showing  the  gradual  approaching  to  the  leaf  forms  of  the  two  parent  species. 
The  work  is  certainly  a  most  interesting  addition  to  the  literature  of  the  cinchonas ; 
and  while  it  must  be  conceded  that  the  views  advanced  by  the  author  are  calculated 
to  throw  light  on  certain  obscure  questions  relating  to  the  cinchonas,  it  is  equally 
certain  that  the  reduction  of  species  as  proposed  must  be  left  for  final  decision  to 
future  careful  investigations. 
Medicinal  Plants;  being  descriptions  with  original  figures  of  the  principal  plants 
employed  in  medicine,  and  an  account  of  their  properties  and  uses.  By  Robert 
Bentley,  F.L.S.,  and  Henry  Tiimen,  M.B.,  F.L.S.  Philadelphia:  Lindsay  & 
Blakiston.    Price,  per  part,  $2  00. 
This  handsome  work,  we  are  glad  to  notice,  is  approaching  completion.  Parts  37 
and  38  before  us  contain  colored  figuies  in  the  usual  excellent  style, and  descriptions, 
etc.,  of  the  following  plants:  ^thusa  cyi  apium,  Lin  ;  Cinnamomum  cassia,  Blume; 
Crocus  sativus,  Lin.;   Humulus  lupulus,  Lin.;  Lycopodium  clavatum,  Lin.;  Peu- 
