1905] Fernald, North American Species of Eriophorum 133 
virginicum, L., is an endemic American genus, Eriophoropsis, which 
he separates on characters confined strictly to the anatomical struc- 
ture of the stem and leaves, himself admitting that in its fruiting 
characters and in its bristles the plant cannot be separated from 
Eriophorum. Until the anatomical characteristics maintained as 
distinguishing Zriophoropsis are corellated with some leading morpho- 
logical characters of the inflorescence or the perianth, the plant will 
scarcely receive general recognition as a unique genus. 
With the transfer to Scirpus of the two elements, Eriophorum cyper- 
inum, L., and its allies, and Hriophorum alpinum, L., which made up 
Persoon's Trichophorum, the genus Eriophorum becomes one with 
strongly marked habital characteristics, and with the perianth con- 
sisting of numerous elongate flat straight bristles. 
ERIOPHORUM CHAMISSONIS. 
The status of the name Zriophorum Chamissonis has been the 
source of much perplexity, and without entering in detail into its 
history it is impossible to gain a just impression of its significance. 
On the gth of November, 1825, Dr. C. A. Meyer presented to the 
St. Petersburg Academy a paper entitled “ Cyperaceae Novae descrip- 
tionibus et iconibus illustratae," but the paper was not actually 
printed until 1831.2 Among the species described was Eriophorum 
Chamissonis 3 based upon “ Erioph. intermedium Cham. in litt.," not 
E. intermedium, Bastard, clearly described in more than a page of text 
and beautifully illustrated by a detailed plate. The plant was said to 
have the * Habitat in Kamtschatka et Unalaschka, nec non in alpibus 
Altaicis,” and the very clear plate shows that it is a species well 
known near the coast of Alaska and Kamtschatka, extending south 
to Mandschuria, which is generally recognized as identical with the 
later Æ. russeolum, Fries, of northern Europe. If the name, Æ. 
Chamissonis were based solely on the description and plate of Meyer, 
there would be no question as to its merits; but, unfortunately, an 
Altai plant was also cited; and between the original drafting of the 
14 Eriophoropsis virginica sieht zur Zeit der Fruchtreife einen ErzopAorum 
überaus ühnlich.... Der Bau der Perigonborsten ist der námliche wie bie Lrio- 
phorum latifolium."— Palla, l. c. 150. 
2 Mém. Sav. Étrang. Acad. St, Pétersb. i. (1831). °l c. 204, t. 3 (1831). 
