130 Rhodora [JuLy 
In 1783 Lamarck ! described Crataegus racemosa. Various portions 
of the long description seem to exclude all the species except Ame- 
lanchier canadensis. The portion of this description which calls for a 
shrubby habit and leaves glabrous beneath at maturity suggests either 
an extreme form of A. canadensis or a hybrid of this species with some 
other. This name does not, therefore, in any case, affect the valid 
nomenclature of our species. 
In 1785 Marshall? described Mespilus nivea. Various characters 
in the description exclude all species except Amelanchier canadensis 
and A. oblongifolia. The writer finds himself unable to decide which 
of these species was intended. If the plant was A. oblongifolia then 
this would be an earlier name for that species. 
In 1796 Crataegus amoena was proposed by Salisbury ? in place of 
the Mespilus canadensis of Linnaeus. No description was given, but 
simply the citation of the Linnean synonym. 
In 1803 Michaux‘ published Mespilus canadensis a obovalis from 
“Carolina inferiore." The description is very brief and the type 
specimen has not been seen by the writer, but various cireumstantial 
evidences point strongly toward Amelanchier oblongifolia as the 
species intended. The description says “humilior; foliis oblongius- 
cule obovalibus." This statement, combined with the statement of 
Ashe that A. obovalis (i. e., A. oblongifolia) is the plant to be expected 
along the coast through South Carolina, suggests an identity with 
A. oblongifolia. A photograph made by Prof. M. L. Fernald of the 
type specimen is less reassuring. The label bears the inscription 
“abriss. de deux pieds de haut. Carolines,” which suggests A. stoloni- 
fera; and while one twig bears the hypanthium of A. stolonifera, 
another twig has petals like A. oblongifolia, and a third twig bears 
leaves which might belong to either species, though typical of neither. 
The identity of Michaux’s variety, therefore, still remains doubtful. 
In 1803 Michaux described also Mespilus canadensis 8 cordata. 
The description, “arborea: foliis cordato-ovalibus, conspicue acumi- 
natis," very strongly suggests A. canadensis, and a photograph of the 
type specimen made by Fernald leaves no doubt that this is the 
proper interpretation. A. canadensis is, of course, the earlier name. 
1 Encyc., i. p. 84. 
? Arbust, p. 90. 
3 Prod., p. 357. 
i F]. Bor. Am, L p: 39]. 
