The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

130 Alfred J. Ewart:

demarcation based on a group of constant characters, for Diels' distinctions do not apply to all the specimens between this variety and the type species. The typical form of the closely allied C. Toddii of F. Mueller1 shows a trifling difference in the size and acuminate character of the bracts, while the prianth tube is rather more slender, is longer in proportion to the lobes, and somewhat more slender, and is more pubescent outside. Even these characters do not appear to be quite constant, so that C. Toddii may also ultimately prove to be a variety of C. Polycephalum when more intermediate material is available.

DAVIESIA CORYMBOSA, var. ST. JOHNII = D. CORYMBOSA, var. VIRGATA. (Papilionaceae).

This plant was recorded in the Victorian Naturalist, Nov., 1906, p. 133, and specimens have since been received from Mr. C. French, Jr., collected at Ringwood. They are identical with the D. virgata of Cunningham, which Bentham refers to D. corymbosa, var. mimosoides. The condensed clusters of small flowers and the very narrow leaves would, as suggested by Mr. W.R. Guilfoyle, justify the recognition of a second variety differing more widely from the type than var. mimosoides, even though transition forms occur, but the name should be variety virgata, in recognition of the old specific name for the variety.

DIPLOTAXIS MURALIS, D.C., the wall or sand mustard. (Cruciferae)

This introduced alien has also been variously referred to as D. muralis and D. tenuifolia, D.C. It has, however, the small flowers and less divided leaves of the former. The Australian specimens have the leaves less exclusively radical and more on the stem, and are often double the normal height, frequently reaching 12 to 16 inches. The plants also showa greater tendency to be perennial, but these changes are probably climatic ones, not necessarily of varietal significance, although they are approaches towards D. tenuifolia, D.C.

1 Fragm. vol x., p. 20.

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