REVIEW 
THE FLORA OF SOUTH AFRICA, WITH SYNOPTICAL TABLES OF 
THE GENERA OF THE HIGHER PLANTS. Vol. iv. By Rudolf 
Marloth, Author of Das Kapland. With 42 coloured and 18 mono- 
chrome plates. Cape Toim : Darter Bros. & Co. London : William 
Wesley & Son. 1915. 
Some time ago there was a review in these pages of the first volume of 
this important addition to the literature of South African Flora. The 
present volume, second in order of publication but fourth in series, fully 
maintains the standard of the first. The coloured plates are of outstanding 
excellence in execution, and their subjects are skilfully chosen so as to be 
thoroughly representative. Perhaps even better are the photograph plates, 
telling as they do so much of the environment of the plants illustrated. 
Dr Marloth is happy in his combination of scientific insight, familiarity 
with the country, an eye for the picturesque and unusual photographic 
skill : to these he adds the power of taking immense pains to secure perfec- 
tion. Could anything be more clear, for example, than Plates 37 and 60, 
showing the Amaryllis belladonna and the Dim, uniflora at home? Only 
those who have tried to photograph such closely packed masses of vegeta- 
tion know what depths of despair lurk therein. 
The volume is complete in itself as giving the whole class of Monocotyle- 
dons ; and since from a pictorial point of view this is perhaps the most 
attractive portion of our Flora, Dr Marloth is wise in having anticipated 
the order of publication. Let it not be a matter of surprise that in a scien- 
tific book so much prominence should be given to the pictorial aspect. Ibis 
is part of the undertaking. Such sumptuous volumes could hardly be pro- 
duced as a publisher’s venture. They owe their existence to the union of 
two enthusiasms. Lady Phillips, animated by patriotic zeal and by love of 
the beautiful, desires to have the loveliness of the South African h lorn 
worthily pourtrayed : Dr Marloth could not be expected to lay his hand to 
anything not scientific. One wants beauty without objecting to science . 
the other wants science, but rejoices to provide beauty as well. W e have 
heard the criticism passed on the first volume, that for a scientific w o i L i t 
is a little too popular, and for a popular work it is a little too scientific. 
