ACADEMY OP NATURAL SCIENCES. 401 



Sequoia, aud adds the specific term Wellingtonia, giving sufficient reasons for 

 discarding Endlicher's specific term gigantea, as that was shown by Hooker to 

 be founded upon Abies (Picea) bracteata. 



In recent publications of American botanists, we find the term Sequoia 

 gigantea of Torrey used to designate the species ; to show that this is not the 

 true nomenclature, I need but to say that Dr. Torrey never described it at all 

 in any book or proceedings. The reference is to the American Journal of 

 Science and Art, Vol. 18, p. 286, August, 1855, where it says: " Dr. Torrey 

 made to the American Association for the Advancement of Science a commu- 

 nication in reference to the Big Tree of California;" also Vol. 17, p. 443, but 

 no description. Now here is no sufficient ground for Dr. Torrey's Sequoia 

 gigantea, for there is absolutely no description at all. but a mere reference ; and 

 this reference is published three months after Drs. Kellogg and Behr have 

 described the tree as Taxodium giganteum. 



I think now that Endlicher's, Liudley's, and Torrey's claims have been refuted ; 

 the controversy is narrowed down as between Seemann and Drs. Kellogg and 

 Behr. By strict usage, and without the usual courtesy of scientific men, the nomen- 

 clature of the " Big Tree " should be Sequoia Wellingtonia of Seemann. But 

 if courtesy is to be shown at all, it should be to those students who are entitled 

 to it ; that Drs. Kellogg and Behr are justly entitled to this honor, I cannot for 

 one moment doubt. Specimens of this gigantic tree were in their possession 

 many months before any other botanist had directed his attention to the sub- 

 ject ; studying indeed under every disadvantage, for our botanical literature at 

 that time was very meagre, not even Endlicher's work on the Conifene, in which 

 was to be found the then newly instituted Sequoia, to which was referred our 

 common Taxodium sempervirens of Lambert, being available. Had they access 

 to this work they would have given us Sequoia gigantea ; mark, that this was 

 three months before Torrey's reference. 



They therefore are in truth and reality, if not technically, the first scientific 

 discoverers of the true position of the great tree. The terms they used were 

 Taxodium giganteum, meaning by this that it was a congener with Taxodium 

 sempervirens, which it was. 



If Seemann's technical claims are set aside, then by courtesy Sequoia gigan- 

 tea Kellogg and Behr, ought to be written as the true name of the " Big Tree." 



For the advancement of science, we hope the final closing of this and other 

 questions pertaining to the Conifera; of this coast will be left to the able 

 monographer of this order, Dr. George Engelmann, of St. Louis, who is now in 

 Europe, having the notes and observations of recent botanists, and who will 

 there have access to all the literature and material necessary to establish scien- 

 tific accuracy and unity in this important family of plants. 



