88 
by the slight differences separating species in this group of plants, 
is certainly remarkable, and may fairly be taken as of species value 
despite the apparently intergrading forms. Indeed, so distinct 
from zztermedia does the typical plant appear that it may well be 
questioned whether intergradation between the two is not, after 
all, more apparent than real. When we recall instances of per- 
fectly distinct species exhibiting an apparent identity up to the 
time of full maturity of flower or fruit we find ourselves less ready 
to assign doubtful specimens to the category of intergrades. It 
may be readily conceived that between certain individuals of nearly 
related plants an inherent distinctness may be completely disguised 
to the eye as a result of retarded development or other cause. Be 
this as it may, I am sufficiently satisfied of the expediency of 
recognizing as a species the Zechea here discussed. To refer 
it to either of its near allies would be to evade a difficulty 
through a makeshift, and as for varietal rank the grade variety 
has been misused out of. all definite meaning. Species are neces- 
sarily of different values. Closely similar but trenchantly distinct 
plants range side by side with species far more divergent from 
each other, yet inter-related through medial forms. The relega- 
tion of such well-characterized plants to the vague rank of variety 
surely involves a disregard of the facts of nature not to be excused 
by an appeal to the supposed requirements of a system of nomen- 
clature necessarily more or less artificial. 
For the new plant I propose the name Lechea juniperina in 
allusion to the appearance of its densly leafy narrow panicle, 
which is often suggestive of a spiry red cedar (Juniperus Vir- 
giniana) in miniature. 
LECHEA JUNIPERINA 0. sp. 
Tufted from a descending and branched woody root, 2-5 dm. 
high. Stems erect, often from an outcurved or ascending base, 
mostly purplish and naked below the middle at flowering-time, 
branched above the middle to form a dense narrow panicle; 
branches short, numerous, closely ascending, mostly 2-5 cm. long 
(1-9 cm.); pubescence consisting of fine white hairs, at first 
densely appressed, becoming loosely substrigose-hoary or even 
subtomentose-canescent; leaves numerous, crowded, ascending 
or appressed, thickish, slightly revolute in drying, only the mid- 
vein evident, glabrous above, below with the midrib finely strigose- 
