298 Robinson: Further Notes on the Agrimonies 



least, careful examination has failed as yet to reveal a single constant 

 difference. The species passes across the continent to the northwest 

 (although extending far southward along the Rocky Mountains), 

 then continues through northern Asia to central Europe. It is, in 

 fact, one of many circumboreal species which, althoughjon each con- 

 tinent subject to some trifling variations, pass from one continent 

 to the other without noteworthy change. 



Regarding the first specific names of A. mollis and of the small- 

 fruited plant which has been passing as A. striata I was misled (as 

 my critic appears also to have been in his earlier work) by an in- 

 sufficient study of Wallroth's treatment. From further examina- 

 tion I see the doubt as to the application of A. microcarpa and A. 

 platycarpa and, as my sole purpose in this whole matter has been 

 to carry species back no further than could be accomplished with 

 definiteness, I am very ready to adopt for the plants in ques- 

 tion the names A. rostellata Wallr. and A. pub esc ens Wallr. con- 

 cerning the application of which there can, I think, be no serious 

 doubt. 



As to the names A. hirsuta, A. glabra, and A. pnmila y founded 

 upon brief references in Muhlenberg's Catalogue, I must repeat 

 my earlier view that they are nomina subnuda, and should give 

 way to later names, the application of which can be established 

 with greater certainty. While it is quite possible to advance 

 ingenious and plausible hypotheses regarding Muhlenberg's agri- 

 monies, they are after all only conjectures, and what is worse can 

 never be anything more. For instance, all our species of agri- 

 mony, not even excepting the tomentose ones, are apt to be 

 covered on the older stems by the thickened and indurated bases 

 of the longer hairs, which thus render the stems decidedly scabrous 

 to the touch. Under these circumstances the one-word description 



■ 



" rough-haired M will not possess for most persons working in the 

 interests of " sound botany" that " exact sufficiency and beautiful 

 adequacy " which has been ascribed to it. 



The distinction between a described species and an undescribed 

 one should not, it is true, be stated very dogmatically. The ele- 



* It has been recently stated that this name is antedated by the specific combi- 

 nation A. Dahurica. This, I believe, is not the case although the varietal designation 

 in the form daurica was employed a year or so earlier than Ledebour's name. The 

 point, however, is not significant. 



