95 
Desmodium Illinoense, Gray. 
Crategus mollis (Torr. & Gray) Scheele. 
Osmorrhiza Claytoni, (Michx.) B. S. P. 
Convolvulus arvensis, L. 
Seymeria macrophylla, Nutt. 
Anychia Canadensis (L.) B. S. P. 
Asprella Hystrix (L.) Willd. 
DOANE COLLEGE, CRETE, January 2, 1892. 
The Validity of the Oldest Specific Name. 
The method adopted by Mr. Sudworth (see Vol. xviii. 289) 
appears to result from a logical application of the law of priority, 
and will probably in time find acceptance among botanists, as it is 
already doing among zoologists. If the identical name for both 
genus and species is to be avoided, it is the genus that must go—and 
yet I presume nobody will propose to abolish Masturtium, Ustila- 
§0, Opuntia, etc., for this reason! Some years ago I brought this 
question forward in a short article dealing with nomenclature 
(Sctence Gossip, 1888, p. 276), and since then have noted down 
cases of the kind when I have come across them. The following 
are additional to those given by Mr. Sudworth : 
Correct Name by Priority. 
Present Name. Linnean Name. 
Nasturtium officinale, R. Br. Sisymbrium nasturtium. Nasturtium nasturtium (L.). 
Guazuma tomentosa, H.B.K. Theobroma guazuma. Guazuma guazuma (L.). 
Pimenta officinalis, Lindl. Myrtus pimenta, Pimenta pimenta (L.). 
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, Laurus cinnamomum., Cinnamomum cinnamomum 
Breyn. (bd 
Persea gratissima, G. Laurus persea. Persea persea (L.). : 
Lagenaria vulgaris, Sw. Cucurbita lagenaria, Lagenaria lagenar. ia (L.). 
Manihot utilitissima, Pohl. Jatropha manihot. Manihot Manthot (L.). 
Ustilago segetuim (Bull.). Chaos ustilago. Ustilago ustilago (L.). 
Probably many other cases might be found if a diligent search 
were made. T. D. A. COCKERELL. 
Institute of Jamaica, Jamaica, W. I., Nov. 17th, 1891. 
Botanical Notes. 
A Singular Rudbeckia hirta. Prof. Halsted’s note in the 
October BULLETIN, entitled ‘‘A Double-Headed Rudbeckia,” 
called my attention to a specimen I collected in a meadow on 
the Gap Hills, Lancaster Co., Pa., June 14, 1889. On examina- 
tion, I find the plant to be a very curious freak. It consists of 
two stems ascending from a short cylindrical root-stalk. — From 
