EICHLERIA, Nov. gen.-Calyx Mimusopis v. Imbricaria. Petala totidem, appendicibus petaloideis geminatis integris Mimusopis. Stamina eodem numero petalis alternantia et totidem eis anteposita, omnia fertilia. Carpella sectionis (Mimusopearum) sepalis antepositis. -Genus a Mimusope staminibus alternipetalis fertilia tantum differt. Species 2

1. E. discolor, mihi (Labourdonnaisia, Sond. in Linnæa, xxiii, 73). Natal.

2. E. albescens, mihi (Labourdonnaisia, Benth.; Bassia, Griseb. in Cat. Pl. Cub., 164). Cuba.

ON A QUESTION OF BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE. By W. P. HIERN, M.A.

THE law which should regulate the choice or creation of the botanical names of plants has been the subject of an interesting discussion in the June, August, September, and December numbers of the Journal of Botany' for last year, and the contributors to it have been the Editor, Professors A. DeCandolle and Caruel, and Mr. Ball. I had hoped that some of our greatest systematic botanists in this country, besides those included above, would have taken part in the controversy so far as to leave no doubt in the public mind, or in the minds of foreign botanists, about their views. They at least do not agree with the last-named botanist in regarding the priority of the specific portion of a plant's name as all-important, and in requiring it, unless already adopted for another species of the genus, to be respected without regard to any other names in the genus to which the plant is found to belong, that may have previously existed for the plant in question. It is doubtless true that the majority of our leading botanists have long shown in their systematic publications, and still prove by their practice, that such is not their rule; still a plain statement supported by argument, and made by such a veteran as Mr. Bentham, would have been useful: it would have turned the scale of testimony; and gone a long way towards the settlement of the question.

It is admitted on both sides that the multiplication of synonymy, which at present has acquired enormous dimensions, and which is daily increasing, is a real evil and serious inconvenience; and therefore it is a fair presumption to lay down that laws of nomenclature ought not to require unnecessarily a further increase of synonymy. It then follows that an already existing name is (unless regard be had to other considerations) preferable to one to be created; and this deduction applies as well to generic words as to specific combinations. In the case of specific combinations, it is of course essential to final precision, on the Linnæan plan of binominous nomenclature, that the left-hand component, being a generic word, should be the recognised name of the genus to which the species belongs; and this limitation is universally

allowed. But, without good and sufficient cause, to limit by law the word which may form the right-hand component of the specific combination must in many cases involve the obligation to compound new names, and therefore would on the whole imply an enlargement of synonymy. Why, then, is it desirable to pass or permit a law which directs that the right-hand component must be the oldest of such words which have ever been published under any genus whatever with reference to the species under consideration?

There is no reason, derivable from the general nature of the case, to suppose that a name is intrinsically better because it is older, that a name which may have been published in an early stage of scientific investigation should be more suitable than one given after the acquisition of more extended knowledge,—or that a name hurried into publication should excel one subsequently, regularly, and deliberately selected by a competent monographer. I venture to say that the right and chief use of the law of priority resides in the effect that it furnishes a general, impartial, and unalterable rule whereby a name in a good and proper genus is fixed beyond the reach of future disturbance; but the law must not be permitted to be aggressive, or to carry its general influence beyond the bounds of its general usefulness. When it has been cmployed to determine the generic word, and to select one of the various specific combinations of which the generic word forms the left-hand member, and which may have already existed for the species, it has done its proper duty, and it ought not further to compel the formation of a new specific combination by any regard to the antiquity of the right-hand member alone.

For example, why should it be a legal obligation to construct a new name for the South American tree, Diospyros Paralea, Steud. (1840), a species the earliest name of which was Paralea guianensis Aubl. (1775), only because guianensis is the oldest specific portion, and Diospyros the necessary generic word? Or, if some recent author had constructed and published the name which I should regard as an unnecessary and superfluous combination, should all succeeding generations be required to use it, in preference to a name which is appropriate, which has been adopted in DeCandolle's 'Prodromus,' in the Flora Brasiliensis,' and in other books, and which is strictly in accordance with all necessary laws of nomenclature?

Again, while in some instances the specific portions of botanical names are given so as to express some absolute character of the species, such as annua, glabra, indica, on the other hand others, such as aberrans, affinis, dubia, intermedia, maxima, minor, have been given with reference to, or in comparison with, its supposed congeners, or as specially adapted to the particular genus in which the plant was placed; such latter words are clearly liable to become inappropriate when appended to a different genus, and even the former may be rendered unsuitable when attached to a genus which includes in its generic character the attribute expressed therein.

It is further obvious that, if the principle here opposed were permitted to prevail with all its logical consequences, the synonymy

L

of a genus would be perpetually liable to disturbance, whenever it became necessary to import additional species from other genera, the specific portions of the names of which might then take precedence by their greater antiquity over those already established in the genus.

The considerations stated above expose some difficulties and objections not of isolated occurrence but of a general nature, so that they are capable of establishing fair and reasonable arguments against making this disputed law of nomenclature, and are not merely incidental cases of hardship exceptionally detected in the course of operation of a necessary and well-established law; they, therefore, can and ought to be permitted to have their full weight in this matter.

Professor Caruel aptly appeals to the practice of Linnæus and of succeeding botanists, and contends that when the first word of a botanical name is taken away the whole name falls to the ground. As Linnæus himself expressed it, "Nomen specificum sine generico est quasi campana sine pistillo ;" and when a new generic name is prefixed to the same affix, agreement is, à priori, doubtful.

We in this country can point with pride to the great and brilliant additions recently made to systematic botany by our own botanists, and can show that they almost all, without exception, have seen no necessity for the law now sought to be imposed on us; for while they are ever ready to maintain the specific member of a name when possible and convenient, yet they practically assert their liberty to alter it whenever, on removing it to another genus, it seems to them right or preferable to do so. This liberty, so distinctly handed down to us, is more necessary than a law to repeal it; it is no undue license, it is often extremely useful, and we must not be deprived of it.

ON TWO NEW GENERA OF AMARYLLIDACE FROM CAPE COLONY.

By J. G. BAKER, F.L.S.

APODOLIRION, Baker. Flowers solitary, sessile in a membranous spathe from the top of the bulb. Perianth erect, symmetrical, with a long cylindrical tube, and an erect funnel-shaped limb with six equal ascending lanceolate or oblong segments, finely nerved all over the back, not specially keeled. Stamens distinctly biseriate, three inserted at the throat of the tube, and three a short space above the base of the segments; filaments short, filiform; anthers linear, basifixed, erect, sagittate at the base. Ovary clavate, threecelled; ovules several in a cell, horizontal, superposed. Style filiform, a little longer than the perianth-tube; stigma simple, capitate. Fruit unknown. Root-stock a tunicated bulb; leaves synanthous or hysteranthous; flowers delicate in texture, moderately large, whitish or pale red.

TWO NEW GENERA OF AMARYLLIDACEÆ FROM CAPE COLONY. 75

Allied to Gethyllis, from which it mainly differs in the stamens. Of European genera, similar in habit to Crocus and Colchicum.

Key to the Species.

Leaves hysteranthous; segments of perianth

limb oblanceolate, acute.

Perianth-tube 3-4 inches long
Perianth-tube 1 inch long.

Leaves synanthous; segments of perianth-limb
oblong, cuspidate

1. A. MACKENII, Baker.

1. A. Mackenii.

2. A. Buchanani.

3. A. Bolusii.

Bulb and leaves not seen. Perianthtube filiform, three to four inches long; limb pale red, an inch and a half to two inches long; segments oblanceolate-unguiculate, acute, a quarter of an inch broad two-thirds of the way up. Anthers a quarter of an inch long; three upper inserted about a quarter of an inch above the base of the segments, on filaments shorter than themselves; three lower from the throat, rising up to or a little above the insertion of the filaments of the three upper ones. Style reaching up to the top of the three lower stamens. Noodsberg, Natal, April, 1869, McKen!

2. A. BUCHANANI, Baker; Cyphonema Buchanani, Baker, in Trimen Journ., 1876, p. 66. Root-stock a globose bulb an inch in diameter, with membranous pale tunics produced one to two inches above its top, in which the spathe is hidden. Leaves hysteranthous. Spathe an inch long. Perianth-tube filiform, an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half long; limb whitish, faintly tinged with red, an inch and a half long; segments oblanceolate, acute, a quarter of an inch broad three-quarters of the way up. Anthers a quarter of an inch long; three higher inserted a quarter to one third of an inch above the base of the segments on filaments an eighth of an inch long; three lower reaching up from the throat to the point where the filaments of the three upper are inserted. Style reaching up to the top of the three lower anthers. Natal, Rev. J. Buchanan!

3. A. BOLUSII, Baker. Bulb not seen, its outer tunics produced an inch and a half to two inches above its neck. Leaves three, cotemporary with the flower and overtopping it, like those of Cyrtanthus helictus in shape and character, linear, glabrous, spirally twisted, one sixth of an inch broad. Perianth-tube two inches long, cylindrical, stouter than in that of the two other species; limb whitish, an inch and a half long; segments oblanceolate-oblong, ascending, half an inch broad above the middle, obtuse, with a cusp. Anthers above a quarter of an inch long, the upper row inserted half an inch above the base of the segments on filaments shorter than themselves: anthers of the lower row reaching up to the base of those of the upper row. Style not distinctly seen in our only specimen. In damp places on the highest mountains near Graaf-Reinet, at an elevation of 4300 feet, December, 1868, Bolus, 717!

ANOIGANTHUS, Baker. Flowers in an umbel, or reduced to one, bracteated by a spathe of one or two large lanceolate valves. Perianth erect, symmetrical, with a short funnel-shaped tube above the ovary, and an erect funnel-shaped limb with six equal ascending, lanceolate, acute segments, about three times as long as the tube, laxly nerved all over the back. Stamens six, distinctly biseriate; filaments filiform, straight, ascending, longer than the anthers, those of the three upper inserted at the throat of the tube, those of the three lower a little below. Anthers small, oblong, versatile. Ovary oblong, three-celled; ovules horizontal, very numerous. Style filiform, reaching finally nearly to the top of the perianth-segments. Stigma trifid, with short falcate spreading branches. Fruit a capsule, with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds compressed, tightly packed in the cells. Acaulescent herbs, with a bulbous root-stock and moderately large, whitish, or paleyellow flowers.

From Cyrtanthus, with which this has been associated, this recedes widely in the character of the perianth, which resembles that of Hamanthus or Buphane. In habit and stature, the common species recalls our European Leucojum æstivum.

1. A. BREVIFLORUS, Baker; Cyrtanthus breviflorus, Harvey Thes. t. 189 (a poor figure). Bulb ovoid, an inch in diameter, with a short neck, and very dense tuft of slender root-fibres. Produced leaves generally three, cotemporary with the flowers, lorate, obtuse, half to three-quarters of an inch broad, above a foot long when fully developed. Scape slender, terete, varying in length according to situation from a couple of inches to a foot or a foot and a half. Umbel two to ten-flowered. Bracts one or two, lanceolate, one and a half to two inches long. Pedicels finally one to two inches long, erect in all stages. Ovary green, oblong, an eighth of an inch long; tube a quarter to three-eighths of an inch long, funnel-shaped; limb half to three-quarters of an inch long, whitish; segments equal, lanceolate, acute. Three upper stamens reaching half-way up the limb, the three lower just out of the throat. Anthers pale yellow, oblong, half an inch long; filaments a quarter to one-third of an inch. Style overtopping the stamens, with three falcate stigmatose lobes, thickened at the tip. Perianth persistent till the fruit is half formed. Capsule membranous, oblong, or turbinate, half to three-quarters of an inch long, each cell filled full of compressed seeds. Natal, Krauss, 255! 394! Sanderson, 692! Plant, 106! At 5000 feet, on Mount Kondewelde, of the Sneeuwbergen range, December, 1872, in leaf and flower, Bolus, 2577! Damp places on the Baziya hills, Transkeian Kaffraria, (type and a depauperated one to twoflowered form, one to two inches high, without leaves present with the flowers), Rev. R. Baur, 248! In marshy plains, Beaufort, Cooper, 255! Damp table-land of Mount Boschberg, MacOwan, 2133! Also Drege, 3521!