VOL. IV.] Dates of Botanical Works. 369 



where I gathered the latter variety and describes it as ^. deniis- 

 sus, then Mr. Sheldon, by the aid of the Index Kewensis, gives 

 Mr. Greene's species a new name, A. Jepsoni, and my first van 

 another, A. scobinatulus- An examination of Mr. Greene's 

 description shows that his specimens, though from the type 

 locality of the var. Nevadeyisis, are pubescent and have unequal 

 calyx teeth. As it is the fashion now to name everything in 

 sight, I would suggest that the var. Ncvadensis is fully as dis- 

 tinct as any of the other forms, and as the name is preoccupied 

 (Index Kewensis) it is waiting for a brand new name and will be 

 the property of the first man who gets into print. 



Sometime botanists, when they get into the field, will learn 

 that pubescence and comparative length of calyx teeth are slim 

 foundations on which to hang species, in Astragalus. 

 [^ Astragalus ArTEmisiarum. Astragalus Bectc^vitlni var. 



purpurcus Jones " Zoe " iii, 288. Recent studies in the field 

 make it reasonably certain that this is distinct from A. Bcckivithii. 

 The chief distinguishing characters are the purple flowers, rather 

 cartilaginous pods with the interior filled with a watery juice and 

 stipe with a fully formed joint near the middle. A. Beckiiithii 

 has ochroleucous flowers a dry and rather thin pod without 

 watery juice and a joint in the stipe which is often reduced to a 

 dark spot in the stipe which does or does not break at that point 

 and generally irregularly. 



THE DATES OF BOTANY BEECHEY, FLORA BOREALI- 



AMERICANA, AND TORREY & GRAY'S FLORA. 



" Flora Boreali-Americana W. Hooker. 



This work came out in parts, but as was usual at that time no official 



statement was published as to the dates of publication. Consequent upon this, 



doubts as to the actual publication of many species therein contained have 



been rife. The following details may help to settle those questions: 



Vol. i Part i, consisting of six sheets, pp. 1-48, came out in 1829 (cf. 



Linnsea, v, 1830, Litt. 102); and Seringe, Bull. Bot.,\ (mars, 1830), 49. 



Parts 2 et 3, p. 49-144 in 1830 (cf. Linusea, vi (1831), Litt. 154). 



Parts 4 to 6, end of vol. i in 1834 (cf. Ann. sc. nal. Ser. ir, 



tome iii (1835), ioq, " Livr. 3-7." 



\'ol. ii, Part 7 in 1834. See last note. 



February 21, 18^4. 



