811 
Ranunculus Nelsonit var. tenellus A. Gray, Proc. Am. Acad. 8: 
7a. 187%: 
Ranunculus occidentalis var. tenellus A. Gray, Proc. Am. Acad. 
21: 373. 1886. 
Ranunculus Nelsonu glabriusculus Holzinger, Cont. U. S. Nat. 
Herb. 3: 210. 1895. Not &. glabriusculus Rupr. 
Ranunculus Bongardi var. tenellus Greene, Erythea, 3: 54. 1895. 
A species which is abundant in moist or wet places in the 
Craig mountains. It was collected in two localities at Lake Waha, 
one at the head of the lake, and the other in the Sweetwater 
cafion. It was also noticed about Forest. In this connection it 
may be well to call attention to an unjust custom which botanists 
have fallen into. Professor Greene, in 1895, published Ranunculus 
Longardi as a new species, and at the same time reduced to it as 
a variety the Ranunculus tenellus of Nuttall, published in 1838. 
In doing this he has merely followed a prevalent custom. Would 
it not be better if we, who are working for a stable nomenclature, 
would show more justice in such matters. If a new plant is dis- 
covered, do we have a right to describe it as a new species, while 
reducing to it as a variety, some plant described as a species 
years before? The proper way, as it appears to me, is to de- 
scribe our own new plant as a variety of the old species, if we 
must describe varieties. 
SOPHIA FILIPES (A. Gray). 
Sisymbrium incisum  filipes A. Gray, Pl. Fend. 8. 1849. 
Sisymbrium longipedicellatum Fourn. Sisymb. 59. 1865. 
This species is very common about Lewiston, and at various 
other places in Nez Perces county. It bids fair to become a weed 
in wheat fields, as well as in grass lands. The type specimen was 
“ from Clear Water, Oregon, by Mr. Spaulding,” but that is a mis- 
take, if the Clearwater river is meant, for the Clearwater empties 
into the Snake at Lewiston, and no part of it flows near the State 
of Oregon. 
DoDECATHEON PUBERULENTUM 0. sp. 
Crown 1-2 cm. long, covered with the petioles of fallen leaves, 
not producing bulblets; leaves spatulate or oblong-obovate, 5-6 — 
cm. long, including a margined petiole of 2 cm., glabrous, light 
green, thin, but firm, entire or slightly crenate, somewhat pointed, : oo 
