Description: BAKHUIZEN VAN DEN BRINK Jr, R.C., A synoptical key to the genera of the Rubiaceae of Thailand. Thai Forest Bull. (Bot.) 9 (1976) 15-55. Key of the bracketed type, often leading to flowers as well as fruits, with built-in descriptions of c. 6-12 lines; diagnostic characters are marked. Number of genera 68, incl. 3 introductions and 5 genera not recorded but possibly occurring in Thailand (mostly dependent on delimitation); Craib in 1932-34 has 71. Schumann’s system of 1891 is largely upheld, although no subdivision is here given, and some surprising changes in delimitation occur (e.g. in Keenania, Mycetia, Myrioneuron), which means that many new combinations must be floating around on herbarium sheets. Caution is in order where e.g. on p. 49 Mitragyna seems to have a new section Paradina with a supposedly basal placenta, or where Gardenia is authorized L. on p. 35 but authorized L. emend. Bakh.f. on p. 32. A comparison with Thonner’s keys reveals that Bakhuizen’s key works slower. His generic descriptions are true ’mines of information’ – mining requires a lot of backtracking before all characters can be compared. Desirable as it would be to extend a work like this to all Malesia, it would be better to abandon the Backer-way of keying, and instead describe all genera clearly, and prepare a multiple key as worked out by Leenhouts. Some synonyms are given (Notodontia yes, Quiducia and Symphyllarion no), nomina conservanda indicated, no references, no species. Several critical notes are added. — C.E. Ridsdale & M.J.

Description: The circular which was enclosed in Bulletin 24 has received full attention of our readers and a large number of cards were received. The large majority favours the continuation of our annotated bibliography as it is, not cutting off references on the Australian and Pacific floras, and not discarding the references on the Cryptogams. A review of Mr. Ferguson’s Index is given on p. 1912. October 21, 1970, Foundation Flora Malesiana existed twenty years. This anniversary was marked by a small festivity in the Rijksherbarium. Although curtailed financially since January 1958, it has kept its promise to promote all studies encompassing progress of the botany and plant geography of the Malesian subcontinent. It is gratifying that with the distinct tendency of the rehabilitation of the economical and political situation in Indonesia during the last few years, science in general, and biology in particular, are getting a new impetus. Amongst others through international agreement and co-operation, two master organisations have been set up, SEAMEC and BIOTROP, the latter being the centre of biological studies and education allotted to Bogor. It is clear that this focus will be a great stimulant and will sponsor biological activity. It was particularly pleasant to learn from Professor Sarwono and Dr. Didin, chairman and secretary of LIPI respectively, that this general scientific rehabilitation scheme included assistance towards the Flora Malesiana Foundation. Although the scientific elaboration of Flora Malesiana has been transferred as a major work project to the Rijksherbarium, a necessity since 1958, there are various desiderata left, amongst others contributions from Indonesian systematists. Unfortunately, the net result of Dr. Kostermans’s efforts to have promising Indonesian students thoroughly trained and prepared to share the tremendous task still before us, is meagre. Two of them, Dr. Soegeng and Dr. Didin, are occupied with very responsible and very necessary but largely administrative tasks, Dr. Prijanto died unexpectedly, and Dr. Soepadmo spends his time largely on educational matters. Clearly something must be done and we trust that in the near future creative work by Indonesian systematists can be resumed. We shall, I sincerely hope, overcome, and the future carries certainly very promising features for a more intense co-operation. And disinterested loyal co-operation is the very basis of ensuring achievement. It is with immense satisfaction that I see this perspective of a bright future ahead.

Description: The South Asia Institute (see note on page 2342) has changed its address in Heidelberg, Germany: now P.O. Box 10 30 66. Work is in progress on the geography – with a botanical inclination – on Nepal, Ceylon, Java, Sumba, Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Stewart Island, New Zealand. New policy of NUFFIC. The two projects executed by the Rijksherbarium for the Netherlands University Foundation For International Cooperation: seedlings in Bogor and Flora of Thailand, have been completed and discontinued respectively. Both were conceived in the early days of NUFFIC, when initiatives of interested parties were welcomed. Election of a socialist government in Holland in 1973 brought a gradual change in policy, towards larger, multidisciplinary projects for the benefit of the poorest, and we were informed that small projects like the above would not be accepted. We will see what the next elections bring, in 1977.

Description: Portraits of botanists who worked on the Ryukyu Islands, 80 in number, most Japanese, a few Americans, were published in the book by S. Hatusima, Flora of the Ryukyus, p. 56-75 (1971). Baas Becking, L. G. M. A meticulous bibliography, of the former Professor of Experimental Botany at Leiden and later Director of the Bogor Botanic Gardens, was prepared by J. Westenberg, 20 p. (North Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1977).

Description: Dr. J.A.R. Anderson, who retired from the Sarawak Forest Service, and now lives at 15 Church Hill, Edinburgh EH10 4BG, will continue his interest in Malesian botany and ecology as a consultant forester and ecologist. The MS. of a project on which he had been working for several years is now in the final stage. This is a ”Check List of the Trees of Sarawak”; the scientific names will be coded and alphabetically arranged by families, genera and species, together with a moderately comprehensive list of vernacular names. This should be of value to the Forest Department in Sarawak. Miss P. Aston, senior botanist at the Melbourne Herbarium, is Australian liaison officer at Kew where she will remain until mid-1974. She is specialized in aquatic plants of Australia on which subject she wrote a most informative book (1973) which will be duly reviewed in this journal.

Description: Brunonia is the title of a journal that will replace the Contributions from Herbarium Australiense (last no. 17, 1976). Subscriptions Aust. $ 4. annual, Herbarium Australiense, P.O. Box 1600, Canberra City, A.C.T. 2601, Australia. Nature Malaysiana, published quarterly by Tropical Press, 64A Jl. Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, started in July 1976. The price is Mal. $ 2.50 a copy. This first number, size 28 by 20 cm, containing 40 pages of text and some pages of ads, is devoted to ’our natural heritage’. It is full of showy photographs all in colour, with high quality popular texts on snakes, malaria parasites, spiders, wild orchids, mantis, frogs and elephants. Execution is very good. The journal seems aimed at the general educated public, well suited for display in airline offices, dentist’s waiting rooms, the reading table in an embassy, etc. where is surely will make life more pleasant, and set people’s minds in the proper direction.

Description: The entries have been split into five categories: a) Algae – b) Fungi & lichenes – c) Bryophytes – d) Pteridophytes – e) Spermatophytes & General subjects. — Books have been marked with an asterisk.

Description: Austrobaileya replaces the Contributions from the Queensland Herbarium, and was devised to accommodate also shorter taxonomic notes. The Contributions amount to 20 numbers, with one article each; a cumulative index of names is in no 20, p. 73-88. In format and execution Austrobaileya resembles its predecessor but the useful page heads should be retained. Volume 1 number 1 (1977) was received in March 1978. It carries 9 papers on 74 pages, and a map with subdivisions of Queensland on the back flap. Frequency and price are unknown. Editor: L. Pedley, Queensland Herbarium, Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Qld. 4068, Australia. Brunonia replaces Contributions from Herbarium Australiense or rather seems a continuation of it in the same scope under a new name, and paged through per volume. The first issue appeared on 24 February 1978, it has 129 pages, carrying 11 papers. It will be ”issued at irregular intervals”. Subscription is A$ 10 per annum. Editor is B.J. Walby, CSIRO, Box 89, East Melbourne, Vic. 3002, Australia.

Description: Flora Malesiana series i volume 8 instalment 2, pages 31-300, came from the press in December 1977*. It contains the Ulmaceae by E. Soepadmo: 6 genera, 27 species; the Iridaceae by D.J.L. Geerinck: 6 genera, 7 species; the Cornaceae by K.M. Matthew: 1 genus Mastixia with 10 species; the Onagraceae by P.H. Raven: 2 genera, 14 species; the Bignoniaceae by C.G.G. J. van Steenis: 15 genera, 31 species + in concise treatment 23 ornamental species; the Crypteroniaceae by R.J. van Beusekom-Osinga: 3 genera, 8 species; the Symplocaceae by H.P. Nooteboom: 1 genus Symplocos, 58 species; the Lentibulariaceae by P. Taylor: 1 genus Utricularia, 22 species. Volume 8 instalment 3 is in proof. It contains the Labiatae and Anacardiaceae, as well as some Addenda, the Dedication to F.A.W. Miquel, and the Index, since volume 8 will then be completed.

Description: Dr. J.A.R. Anderson, former conservator of Forests, Kuching, now consultant forester and ecologist, new address: 30 Greenhill Gardens, Edinburgh EH10 4BP, U.K. His Far East address: c/o Room 432, 4th floor, Katong Shopping Centre, Singapore 15. Dr. P.S. Ashton of Aberdeen spent months in Kuala Lumpur, during the second half of 1975, principally to teach economic and forest botany at the University of Malaya.