the New England Agrimonies 107 



th 



now again in the above discussion of A. Brittoniana, I followed 

 Dr. Gray who was at pains to certify to its rightful application. 

 Next in order of priority comes Muhlenberg's name A. Eitpatoria 

 glabra which, as we have now learned, should be rendered Agri- 

 monia glabra, a most fitting designation, being wholly inappro- 

 priate to any other one of our species. 



Dr. Robinson's assumption that, had I taken due note of the 

 type-station of Michaux's plant, I could scarcely have failed to 

 surmise its identity with my A. Brittoniatia is quite wide of 

 the mark. As well might I have predicated the identity of 

 Michaux's plant with A. hirsute Muhl., also an inhabitant of 

 e same region. Any surmise of the kind would, in fact, have 

 been presumptuous in the face of Dr. Gray's explicit announce- 

 ment of the exact identity of Michaux's plant. Moreover the 

 ranges given in my paper were expressly stated to be incomplete 

 "based alone on specimens actually examined and doubtless 

 subject to considerable extension in some cases." As a matter of 

 fact the species A. glabra (Muhl.) does occur in the Dominion as 

 attested by specimens since examined from lower Canada. 



The name A. microcarpa Wallr., which Dr. Robinson would 

 adopt for this species, was unfortunately not given with an interro- 

 gation in my synonymy as it should have been. A better insight 

 into the matter has since shown that the name has no application 

 to the plant in question, but almost certainly refers to some form 

 °f the species taken up by me as A. pumila Muhl. Wallroth's 

 name A. rostellata is, however, clearly applied to the plant, but is 

 antedated twenty-nine years by Muhlenberg's A. glabra. 



Agrimonia mollis (T. & G.) Britton 

 That the name A. platycarpa Wallr. "will be preferred by con- 

 servative botanists" for this species is open to grave doubt. The 

 conservative botanist who proceeds by preference rather than by 

 rule is lost from the start. The first distinctive appellation for the 

 species was mollis — mollis, therefore, instantly became its inalien- 

 able name, personal preference now to the contrary notwith- 

 standing. 



But even were it necessary to adopt a name of Wallroth's for 



the plant 



platycarpa would still be 



