28 Rhodora [FEBRUARY 
Small, Fl. S. E. U. S. ed. 1. 641, 1332. 1903.— This variety, originally 
distinguished from L. violacea by its smaller size, non-paniculate 
inflorescence, and much shorter pedicels, was raised to specific rank 
in Small's "Flora of the Southeastern United States", and separated 
in Small's key from L. violacea by its elongated peduncles, lax in- 
florescence, and shorter calyx lobes (about 14 as long as the pod), 
L. violacea being distinguished by its short peduncles, close inflores- 
cence, and calyx lobes about 14 as long as the pod. Inasmuch as the 
long peduncles of L. violacea are one of its fundamental characters, 
it is difficult to consider them as distinctive of prairea. "The dif- 
ference in length of calyx lobes compared with the pod rests on no 
better foundation, since the short calyx lobes are those characteristic 
of the apetalous flowers, and the longer calyx lobes those of the 
petaliferous flowers. The greater part of the material of L. violacea 
in the National Herbarium from throughout the range of the species 
has the short calyx supposed to be characteristic of L. prairea. In 
this species the petaliferous flowers seem to perfect fruit only rarely, 
The smaller leaflets and shorter pedicels ascribed to L. violacea 
var. prairea in the original description are not of any more rea 
consequence than the characters already discussed. Although the 
type number (Bush 93) and a few other specimens from Missouri 
have small leaflets (2 cm. long or less), they differ in no other way 
from L. violacea. A variety based on such a character, particularly 
when this reduction in size of leaflets can with much probability be 
associated with the difference in habitat (var. prairea being, according 
to Mackenzie & Bush, a plant of dry prairies, while L. violacea, ac- 
cording to the same authors, is found in rocky woods), seems alto- 
gether too artificial to be maintained. Later collections (Bush 3288 
and 5108) distributed by Bush as L. prairea have leaflets 2-3 em. 
long and are in no way distinguishable from ordinary L. violacea 
(L.) Pers. Schindler! refers L. violacea prairea to L. violacea without 
discussion. 
3. LesPEDEZA STUEVEI Nutt. Gen. 2: 107. 1818.—The name of 
this species has almost universally been written Lespedeza Stuvei. 
It was published by Nuttall in the form * Stürvei," which should be 
transcribed " Stuevet” in accordance with Recommendation XI. c of 
the International Rules, as is done by Schindier. The species was 
1 Bot. Jahrb. 49: 613. 1913. 
