Catalogue of the Mesozoic Plants in the British Museum (Natural History)

Abstract

THE Cretaceous Flora, part ii., is devoted to the Lower Greensand (Aptian) flora of Britain. Several species have previously been recorded, but hitherto no general account of the flora as a whole has been written. The most im portant part of the book is that which deals with new species of Gymnosperms. Twenty-seven Conifers are described, for the most part repre sented by cones or petrified wood, nine Cyciophyta, five Angiosperms, and two Ferns. The introduction includes some interesting observa tions on climate, a summary of previous work, and remarks on the geological position of the plant-bearing beds. The descriptions are care fully compiled, and the work of other authors receives frank criticism. A helpful summary is given of current views on the diagnostic value of different anatomical features in the identification of Coniferous wood. The wisdom of employing the generic name Podocarpoxylon for specimens which cannot as a rule be assigned with certainty to the Podocarpineae is questionable; but Dr. Stopes has, on the whole, adopted a judicial atti tude with regard to the taxonomic value of anatomical characters.

Catalogue of the Mesozoic Plants in the British Museum (Natural History).

The Cretaceous Flora. Part ii., Lower Greensand (Aptian) Plants of Britain. By Dr. Marie C. Stopes. Pp. xxxvi + 360 + xxxii plates. (London: British Museum (Natural History); Longmans, Green and Co., and others, 1915.) Price 21s.