CCLXLI 
June 1892. "The late Sereno Watson in Botanical Gazette 169—170: 
On Nomenclature. 
[It was the request of the late Dr. Sereno Watson that the following communication, 
dietaded by him in his last illness, should appear at an early date in the Botanical 
Gazette. — Eds.] ; 
For some time I have had a desire to give expression to my views upon botanical 
nomenclature. Under the circumstances, I must speak briefly and somewhat dogmatically. 
In my opinion botany is the science of plants and not the science of names. Nomen- 
clature is only one of those tools which is necessary to botany , and this being the case, 
points of nomenelature should be subordinated to science. 
A principle of botanical convenience has been established by those who prefer one 
name to another on account of expediency or convenience. "This prineiple should have a 
great deal of influence. It has been so recognized by the greatest botanists, and from 
their authority receives great weight. I prefer the word expedieney as a better term than 
convenience to designate the principle, that the demands of science override any merely 
technical claims of priority, etc. 
Manium Scop., Martella Scop., Mediastina Dod., Medwusina  Chev., Mega- 
thecium. Link, Melanocybe Fries, Melanophthalmum S Fée, Melanosorus Not., 
Melidium Eschw., Mesenterica Tode, Mesenteriwm & Endl, Mesopus Fries, 
Miatnomyces Corda, Microbotrim: Lev., Microcarpon Schrad., Microcrater 
Endl, Micromphale Nees, Microporus S Pal., Microthecium Corda, Milleporus 
Batsch, Mison Ad. Mitra & Fries, Mitrasphaera & Dum., Mitrosporium Corda, 
Molgosphaera 8 Dum., Monosphaeria Rouss. Mwcedo Pers, Mucilago Hall., 
Ad. Mycastrum Raf, Mycenaria S8 Fries, Mycinema Ag., Mycobanche Pers., 
Mucronia Fries, Mydonosporium Corda, Mydonotrichum Corda, Myriophysa 
Fries, Myrosporium Corda, Myxarium. Wallr., Myrocladiwm Corda, Myxom- 
phalos Wallr, Myxothecium. Kunze, Nassula Fries, Natalia Fries, Nemania 
S. F. Gray, Nematocolla Link, Nematora & Fée, Newurotrema Fries, Nimwulus 
Neck., Ochrosporus Fries, Odontostoma Endl, Oedycia Raf., Omphalaria 
Fries, Omphalomitra & Endl., Oncomyces Kl, Ostracococcum Wallr., Ozontwum 
Link, Parasiticola March., Patella Wigg., Pecilla Lepell., Pelastea Fries, 
Peltea Fries, Penicillaria Chev., Pericoelium Bon., Peridiomyces Karst., Peri- 
grapha & Fries, Peripherostoma S. F. Gray, Perisperma Raf, Perona Pers. 
Berk, Petrona Ad., Pers., Peylia Opiz, Phaeotus $ Fries, Phaiosporus S Strauss, 
Phalacrea Fries, Phellina 8 Endl, Phenacopodium Deb., Phialisphaera 8 Dum., 
Phialospora Raf, Phlebomorpha Pers., Phlegmatium Fries 1819 (non PAleg- 
macium. 1821), Phloeoscoria. Wallr., Phlyctema Desm., Phlyctene $ Endl. 
Phorima Raf, Phylacia Lev., Phylactaria 8 Fries, Phyllocharis $ Fée, 
Phylloedium Fries 1825, Phyllosphaera $8 Dum., PAhymatium. Chev., Physo- 
nema Lev., Physoporus Ohev., Piesmycus Raf, Pileolaria Cast, Piligena 
Schum., Pilophora Wallr., Pinuza S. F. Gray, Pithospermum Mont., Pilto- 
carpium. Link, Placetaria Awd., Placoderma Fries, Plancina Fries, Plati- 
sphaera $ Dum., Platyporus $ Pers., Platystoma Bon., Pleopus Paul, Pleurage 
Fries, Pleurocystis Bon., Plewropus Pers., Plewropyria Fries, Pleuropyxis 
Corda, Podisoma Link, Podocystis Fries, Podostrombiwm Kunze, Polychaeton 
Pers, Polychismium Corda, Polymorphus Naumb., Polymorphum Cheyv., Poly- 
myces Bat., Polystema Raf., Polystoma 8. F. Gray, Porosphaera 8 Dum. 
Pratellarius Fries, Pratellus $8 Fries, Priapus Rat, Prosthecium Fres., Pro- 
leoides Fries, Psecadia Fries, Pseudocormos Endl., Pseudostylis Endl., Psilopus 
8 Kl, Pierodinia Chev., Pulvinaria Bon. Pulvinaria Ehrb., Pyrenodochiwum 
Bor., Pycnopodiwum Corda, Pycromyces Batt., Pyrenochia Link, Pyrenoder- 
mum Bon., Pyrisperma RWaf., Pythiwm. Link non Pringsh, Pyxidiwm S. F. 
Gray, ftacoplaca $ Fée, Relhamum S. F. Gray, Resupinatus Nees, fetigerus 
