Nomenclature. 259 



tained, but oi Epidendrum and Epidendron, Asterocarpus and As- 

 trocarpiis the later is to be rejected. 



VIII. Citation of Authorities. — In the case of a species which 

 has been transferred from one genus to another, the original author 

 must always be cited in parenthesis, followed by the author of the 

 new binomial. 



The main discussion upon this report was on Article VI, in re- 

 gard to the acceptance of named exsiccati not accompanied by a 

 description as valid publication of a species, which was discussed 

 by Messrs. Beal, Coulter, Vasey, Swingle, Bailey, Kellerman, Barnes, 

 Fernow, Cook, Dudley, Morong, Britton, Underwood and Johnson. 

 The motion to amend by including exsiccati was lost. 



Dr. Britton moved that a permanent committee be appointed to 

 serve as a board of arbitration, and to prepare and print a list of 

 the flowering plants within the area of the sixth edition of Gray's 

 Manual in accordance with the recent report on nomenclature. It 

 was subsequently agreed to to extend the range to include Canada, 

 Nebraska and Kansas. On motion of Dr. Arthur the nomenclature 

 committee was made the permanent committee for this purpose. A 

 further motion was carried "that this committee be empowered to 

 receive all suggestions and criticisms of this list, and to report upon 

 them at the next year's meeting." 



The action here taken is certain to have an important effect upon 

 botanical nomenclature, in North America at least, as most botanists 

 would be willing to make concessions in non-essentials for the sake 

 of peace and uniformity. It is evident that such sacrifices were 

 made in committee, as Art. IV of the principles set forth in the 

 circular! sent out to American botanists did not appear in the re- 

 port. This article, which received the signatures of four members 

 of the committee, provided "That a varietal name be treated as 

 equal in rank to a specific name, in its relations as a homonym and 

 in the transfer of species and varieties from one genus to another." 



The effect of this article would be to render the oldest specific 

 name invalid in place of a still older varietal name. We have to 

 thank the good sense of the committee for the shelving of this 

 article, which would necessitate an absurdity in citation, and in view 

 of the extreme looseness with which varieties are treated in bot- 



t Zoe, iii, 170. 



