222 kellerman: preserving type specimens 



Merotypes secured at the very time the type specimen was col- 

 lected and which might be called synchronous merotypes have, 

 of course, the highest value in taxonomy since there is almost 

 no chance of error through mistaking another individual plant 

 for the one that yielded the type. If studied by the author prior 

 to publishing the species merotypes may also be paratypes and 

 as such have still greater authenticity and value. 



Merotypes collected later may differ more or less in their char- 

 acters because of climatic or other environmental factors varying 

 in different seasons. Still, such subsequently collected mero- 

 types are of great value and if chosen carefully may have almost 

 the value of synchronous merotypes. 



It is to be hoped that in future botanists and collectors will 

 arrange to label in some permanent way and to indicate clearly 

 the exact location of trees or other perennial plants from which 

 important specimens are collected which may by any chance be 

 used as the basis for describing a new species. Of course it is 

 imperative that the collector keep the material from this one plant 

 distinct from any material that may be collected from other plants 

 no matter how similar such plants may appear to be. In this 

 way a collector can often provide a supply of merotypes which 

 the author of the species may arrange to distribute to other spec- 

 ialists in his group and to the principal herbaria of the world. 



BOTANY. — A method of preserving type specimens. Maude Kel- 

 lerman, Bureau of Plant Industry, communicated by Walter 

 T. Swingle. 



As the importance of type specimens is more and more recog- 

 nized by taxonomists of the present day, the necessity not only 

 for fixed rules governing their selection but also some practical 

 method for their preservation becomes apparent. The botanist, 

 at any rate, cannot hope to bequeath his types to future genera- 

 tions with prevailing herbarium methods. Many type speci- 

 mens are so fragile that even enclosing each sheet in a species 

 cover is a very inadequate protection. 



For type specimens, especially those of a fragile nature, a new 

 method of preservation has been found that promises to be satis- 



