The British Moss-Flora

Abstract

WE offer to Dr. Braithwaite our most sincere congratulations on the completion of this work on his favourite class of plants. Begun, as regards publication, in 1880, it reached completion by the issue of the last part with index and supplement in May of this year, so that the course of publication has occupied a space of some quarter of a century. In the last number Dr. Braithwaite takes leave of his readers in a postscript in which he expresses his regret that he is unable to include the Sphagnaceæ in the work; but he finds that to study these again at the age of eighty-one, and to draw some twenty-five plates, would be hopeless. All lovers of mosses will share in this regret, at the same time remembering that they owe to Dr. Braithwaite an interesting monograph on the peat mosses of Europe and America, published in 1880. The author concludes the whole matter with a quotation of some lines (little known, we suspect) by Ehrhart, which are interesting as disclosing the mental attitude of the venerable author at the conclusion of his labours; they begin thus:—

The British Moss-Flora.

By R. Braithwaite, &c. Pp. x + 315; 268; 274 + plates. (London: L. Reeve and Co., 1887 to 1905.)