The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

Flora of Australia 127

omission of the word Latin in Art. 37 renders Arts. 36 and 39 invalid, or at least renders their interpretation doubtful in many cases. By means of Art. 37, it would be possible in a roundabout way to force the acceptance of a new species according to Congress rules without a Latin diagnosis. Further, to change the name or authority for a new species because it had not been published with a Latin diagnosis would be to act in flat defiance of Art. 50, and other instances of rules who effects are difficult to harmonise might be given.

Nomina Conservanda.—It is greatly to be regretted that the time limit for change of name was put so far back as 1753, and that the list of nomina conservanda was not greatly extended. To give an instance. Anthistiria L. (Graminae), 1779, is changed to Themeda, Forst, 1775, by Haeckel in DeCandolle's Monograph and in Engler's Pflanzenfamilien. It is impossible to accept any such change of a Linnean name on such slender grounds as a four years' priority, when a name has been universally accepted for over 120 years. Questions of general convenience override any such claim in a case of this kind.

ACACIA ACCOLA, Maiden and Betche. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1906, p. 734. (Leguminosae).

This appears to be a narrow-leaved and broad-fruited form of A. neriifolia. A specimen from Bailey resembles Maiden's form more closely as regards the fruit and the funicle of the seed, but has the broader phyllodes of A. neriifolia. Probably the future discovery of other intervening forms will render advisable the reduction of this species to a variety.

ADENANTHOS CYGNORUM, Diels. Fragm. Phyt. Aust. Occid., p. 138. (Proteaceae).

This "species" is made to include the A. apiculata of Meissner, and the Drummond specimens of A. sericea. The species is, however, undoubtedly the same as A. sericea, Benth., and if Dr. Diels had seen No. 788 as well as No. 787, he would probably not have made this error. There can be no doubt that many accepted species of this genus will be ultimately reduced to varieties as the result of cultural observations, and hence great care

Flora of Australia 129

diameter when fully expanded. Calyx divided to about the middle, the five segments with broad bases and more or less bluntly acuminate tips. Other features much as in A. quadrifidum. Seeds apparently reddish-brown, but otherwise as in A. glabrum.

The absence of any scurfy tomentum at once distinguishes these two species from A. quadrifidum. In addition A. Rodwayi has broader ovate or lanceolate leaves, the calyx is less deeply divided, the flower larger and more bulky at its base. This, with the less deeply divided calyx and the shape of the leaves distinguishes the plant from A. zygophylloides. A. glabrum is told by its glabrous wiry stems, smaller flowers and calyx deeply divided to the base.

I. Tyson, Salt Marsh, W. Australia, 1893; F.A. Rodway, M.B., dried up salt lake, Dedemona, W. Australia, 1907.

ANGIANTHUS HUMIFUSUS, Benth., var. GRANDIFLORUS. (Compositae).

In the last contribution to the Flora of Australia, No. 6, this was erroneously given as a new variety by the accidental omission of a proof correction.

CASSINIA LAEVIS, R. Br. (Compositae)

The record from C. French, Goulburn R., under the above heading, in Contributions to the Flora of Australia, No. 6, should apply to Cassinia arcuata, R. Br., wrongly recorded as C. Theodori, F. v. M.

CONOSPERMUM POLYCEPHALUM, Meisn., var. LEIANTRUM, Benth. (Protoaceae)

Diels and Pritzel1 raise this variety to specific rank as C. leianthum, Benth. The material at the National Herbarium, a part only of which appears to have been examined by Diels and Pritzel, shows conclusively that there is no reason for this change. It is impossible to lay down any clear line of demarcation

1 Fragm. Phyt. Austr. Occid., p. 141

Flora of Australia 131

ERISTEMON GRACILE, R. Grah. ([crossed out: Proteaceae] [added: Rutaceae]). In Edinb. N Phil. Journ. xvi., 1834, p. 175 = ERISTEMON DIFFORMIS, A. Cunn.

The former name is given as that of a valid species in the Kew Index, and the Nat. Herbarium possesses specimens from the Grampians, which are identical with forms of E. difformis, the glabrous petals and slightly longer flower stalks of the specimens being variable features in E. difformis. The specimens do not exactly tally with the description given in Mueller's Plants Indigenous to Victoria, I., 1860, p.125, but our specimens appear to be authenic. E. gracile is the older name, but to change the current one would be a frivolous interference with established nomenclature. Bentham seems to have entirely overlooked E. gracile, and makes no mention of it in the Flora Australiensis.

ERISTEMON INTERMEDIUS. (Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict., 19, 1907, p.40 = E. DESERTI, Pritzel (Fragm. Phytog. Austr. Occ., 1905. p.320).

The plant was described before Diels' and Pritzel's work was available. Their description is exceedingly condensed, and imperfect in several respects, but specimens of their plant since received show that the two species are identical, the older name standing. Pritzel seems to have overlooked the fact that the plant is an interesting connecting link, especially as regards the stamens between the Leionema section of "Phebalium" and Eriostemon proper. The close resemblance to E. Brucci, which misled Mueller, and to which Pritzel attaches undue importance, is mainly external.

EUPHRASIA COLLINA, R. Br. (Syn. E. BROWNII, F. v. M., Fragm., v. 88 (Scrophulariaceae)

There can be no doubt that Mueller was correct in placing four of R. Brown's species in one, but as was pointed out by Bentham, the proper course was to extend one of them to include the others, and so avoid a new name. Even considered as varieties, the line of demarcation is not distinct in all cases, and the type forms show a regular gradation from the dwarf, small-

Flora of Australia. 133

part," to Mueller's reticulata, and that Bauer's figure was named, "doubtless on Brown's authority," L. straminea. Vague assumptions of this kind afford no grounds for troublesome changes of long-standing names. Indeed, a work of this characher tends to bring systematic botany into bad odour with workers in other branches, who suffer from such changes, and if there is any difficulty in regard to the specimens at the National Museum, London, surely the proper course is to add explanatory labels to them, as in the above heading. Archæology and botany are separate subjects, and should be kept apart.

Article 50 of the International Rules of Botanical Nomenclature, 1905, says:—"No on is authorised to reject, change or modify a name (or combination of names) because of the existence of an earlier homonym which is universally regarded as nonvalid, or for any other motive either contestable or of little import." Hence the names should remain as before, L. Brownii Britten being a synonym for L. straminea (R.Br.), Bentham and Mueller.

MEDICAGO HISPIDA, Gaertn., var. INERMIS, Urb. (Papilionaceae). (Syn. MEDICAGO RETICULATA, Benth.). Determined at Kew Herbarium, England.

Dimboola Shire, F. M. Reader, October 16th, 1898. Geelong and Penshurst (1906), H.B. Williamson.

This Medick was recorded by Mr. Reader in the Victorian Naturalist, vol. 19 (1903), p. 159, as Medicago turbinata, Willd., but M. turbinata is quite a distinct plant from Reader's specimens. It was also known here under the names of M. striata and M. nummularia (M. cretica), but differs from both of these. As no specimens of the above variety were in the National Herbarium, the plants were sent to the Kew herbarium for verification and determined as above. It is a naturalized alien form Southern Europe.

OLEARIA HOMOLEPIS, F. v. M., var. PILOSA, new var. (Compositae).

Cowcowing, West Australia. Max Koch, No. 1087 (1904). The variety differs from the type in having slightly longer

Flora of Australia. 135

production of hybrids, some of which in time obtain the to the production of hybrids, some of which in time obtain the fixity of species. The same applies to many genera of less extended scope. The present case of the occurrence of a natural hybrid in the genus Pterostylis (Orchidaceae) is, so far as I am aware, only the second instance recorded for that genus in Australia. The plants were found by Mr. J. R. Tovey at Mentone, Victoria, 1907, growing among patches of Pterostylis concinna and of P. reflexa, var. intermedia. Externally they resemble the latter plant, except that the basal rosette of leaves persists in some cases until flowering. The labellum, however, instead of having an entire obtusely-pointed tip, is broader and faintly but distinctly bifid at its extremity, in this respect, being exactly intermediate between the two forms. Some specimens show signs of reversion to one or the other parent. Bentham gives the scape of P. concinna as rarely above 1 inch. It is usually 3 to 5 inches long, and may bear 1, 2 or even 3 bracts, the lower ones always empty. The wings of the column are marked in white, green and purple, but the intensity, especially of the latter coloration, varies. The possibility of hybridisation must be borne in mind in future studies of this genus, and this explanation may apply to some of the species already described. In Fitzgerald's Australian Orchids mention is made of a supposed hybrid between P. curta, R.Br., and P. pedunculata, R.Br.

PULTENAEA STRICTA, Sims. In Bot. Mag., 1588 (1813). (Leguminosae).

Synonyms: P. MAIDENI, F.M. Reader, in Vict. Nat., xxii., 158 (1905); P. LARGIFLORENS, F. v. M. in Benth., Fl. Austr., ii, 134 (1864); P. GUNNII, Benth., in Ann. der Wien. Mus., ii 82 (1839).

As a result of a close investigation of the numerous forms of these highly variable and closely related "species," it can only be concluded that we are dealing with forms of one large, extremely pleomorphic species. The original description of Pultenaea stricta in the Botanical Magazine, 1813, page 1588, was made from a plant flowering in England, and naturally refers to that specimen only, Sims being unaware of the varied forms assumed by the species in its native habitat.