50 Rhodora [March 



THE IDENTITY OF ANYCHIA DICHOTOMA. 



B. L. ROHINSON. 



The genus Anychia contains two easily reco<jnizabIe although 

 often confused species, both of which grow in New England. One 

 of these, with fastigiately branched puberulent stems, lance-linear 

 leaves, and numerous subsessile flowers, has long passed as .-/. 

 dichotoma, Michx. The other, with more diffuse branching, elliptical 

 leaves, and pedicillate flowers scattered in the forks, has according 

 to varying ideas of specific lines and nomenclatorial principles been 

 called A. capil/acea, DC, A. dic/iotoma, var. capillacea, Torr., and 

 A. canadetisis^ Britt., Sterns, & Poggenb. While recently in Paris, 

 Mr. M. L. Eernald had an opportunity to examine the. type specimen 

 of Michaux's A. dichoioma and found it to be not, as generally sup- 

 posed, the puberulent plant so called, but the glabrous diffuse one 

 later characterized as A. capiUacea. Mr. Fernald forwarded to the 

 Gray Herbarium an excellent photograph of the type together with 

 some notes and the suggestion that the literature of the two species 

 should be re-examined in the light of this interesting discovery. 

 When in London some weeks later Mr. Fernald also examined the 

 extant specimen of the Linnaean Qiten'a canadensis, and found it 

 likewise to be the glabrous diffusely branched plant, and thus iden- 

 tical with the type of Michaux's A. dichotoma. 



On turning to a copy of Michaux's Flora, long ago annotated by 

 Dr. (iray, I find that he also had noticed the real identity of the 

 Michauxian plant, as he had penciled the words " the capillacea " 

 against the description of A. dichotoma. His note, however, was 

 made at a time when in the broader interpretation of species, A. 

 capiUacea was regarded a mere form of A. dichotoma. Presumably 

 for this reason he never published any mention of his observation on 

 the type at the Jardin des Plantes. 



It has long been clear, however, that our two Anychias are di.stinct 

 species and it is a matter of interest to learn that Michaux's name 

 A. dichotoma has been applied to the wrong one. In the light of the 

 new information now at hand it will be necessary to cha"nge the 

 names now current. Concerning the smooth diffusely branched 

 plant, there can be no question. To those who use the first correct 

 combination it must hereafter be A. dichotoma., Michx. Those, who 



