So pemanenmanp 
* 
MR. F. N. WILLIAMS ON THE GENUS SILENE. L19 
215. Sinene suncea, Sibth. et Sm., Prodr. Fl. Grec., 1. p. 297 
(1806) ; Fl. Greca, v. p. 15, t. 421; Sweet, Brit. Flow. Gard., 
1. t. 92 (S. picta); Rohrb., Monogr., p. 159 (S. picta). 
A prioribus, floribus brevissime pedicellatis jam primo aspectu 
distingui potest. 
Adde syn. 8. reticulata, Link, Enum. Hort. Berol., i. p. 426 
(non Desf.). 
B. PALLIDA, Boiss., Fl. Orient., i. p. 605. 
Pallide virens. Rami strictiores. Calycis nervi pallidiores. 
Petalorum lobi angustiores acutiores, nervis paucis non 
anastomosantibus. 
Syn. S. syriaca, Reut. in Cat. Hort. Genev. (1857), p. 4. 
S. filiformis, Hhrenb. Herb., an Otth, in DC. Prodr., i. 
p. 376 P 
To avoid confusion of names and dates, it is best to follow Boissier in 
the name for this species in place of 8S. picta, Pers. (1805). Persoon 
identifies with his plant S. bicolor, Thore, which is certainly a synonym of 
S. portensis (the next species), but Rohrbach seems to infer that Persoon’s 
brief diagnosis of S. picta does not accurately describe authentic speci- 
mens of S. picta, Thore, and while admitting the latter as a synonym 
of S. portensis, credits Persoon with a new species with Thore’s name 
tacked on to it. This subordination of the law of common sense to the law 
of priority only tends to bring the latter more into disrepute than it already 
is. Inaccuracy and ambiguity in Persoon’s brief description is much more 
likely than actual differences in the authentic specimens. Compare also 
S. picta, Desf., Cat. Hort. Paris, ed. I. p. 159 (1804), which Rohrbach 
refers also to the next species ; also S. picta, DC., Pl. Rar. Hort. Genev. 
Geogr. limits—N. and W. Island of Rhodes (Bourgeau, 1888). 
S. Sidon, in Syria. 
E. Baalbec, in the Lebanon (var. £). 
c. Capsula carpophoro bis terve superata. 
216. S. portensis; Linn., Sp. Plant, ed. I. p. 420; Reichb., 
Ic. Fl. Germ. Helv., n. 5074; Rohrb., Monogr., p. 159. 
Geogr. limits.—N. Liguria, in Italy (Tanfani, in Parl. Fi. 
Italiana, ix.). 
S. Andalusia, in Spain. 
E. Island of Negropont, in the Greek Archi- 
pelago. 
W. Near Oporto, Portugal. 
