134 DR. R. R. GATES: A STUDY OF NORTH AMERICAN 
possible to carry the process of subdivision of existing genera too far, and 
by so doing to destroy the usefulness of the genus and impair its definiteness 
as well, It seems certain that no new genera should ever be introduced in 
the groups here under consideration, The indiscriminate creation of new 
TRIANTHA 
TOFIELDIA 
METANARTHECIUM 
Juncoioes 
yx 
JUNCUS P dba ELLA 
XEROPHYLLUM 
STENANTHIUM 
AMIANTHIUM 
ToxicOSCORDION 
CHAMAELIRIUM 
HELONIOPSIS SCHOENOC 
| -— fe AULON 
E HELONIAS 
y, HEMIPHYLACUS 
OocoNTOSTOMUM 
MELANTHIUM 
Oceanorus 
HASTINGSIA 
SCHOENOLIRION 
ZIGADENUS 
CHLOROGALUM 
ORIGINAL ANCESTORS 
OF MELANTHACEAE 
Phylogeny of Melanthace:e. 
generic names obscures relationships, and there is nothing to be said in its 
favour. 
In the citation of specimens in this paper it is to be assumed that all 
specimens are from the Herbarium of the Missouri Botanical Garden, unless 
otherwise specified. Iam greatly indebted to Dr. Geo. T. Moore, Director 
of the Missouri Botanical Garden, for placing the facilities of the institution 
