THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



101 



It is said that to admit such forms into the society of 

 recognized species would greatly disturb botanical procedure. 

 The replies to this position are two: (1) we have already 

 admitted very many of them, even if under protest in some 

 cases; (2) is botanical procedure to be competent to accept the 

 facts of nature? Whether we will or no, these cultivated 

 things will be known by botanical names. What are we to do 

 with Phlox dccussato? It may be a set of hybrids between 

 Phlox paniculata and P. mdculata, but we cannot order the 

 plant from the nurseries under either of these names. Refer- 

 ring the name P. dccussata to one or the other of the species 

 may satisfy the demands of synonymy but it does not dispose, 

 of the plant. It is a good name for the group. Why not use 

 it? — Prom an article by L. H. Bailey in Science. 



TWO FORMS OF LEAVES ON THE 

 SAME PLANT 



r T" r HE philosophers are fond of telling us that there are no 

 **• two objects in nature exactly alike, though there are 

 many, such as grass blades, so nearly alike that the differences 

 are not apparent. As a usual thing, the shape of leaf on any 

 species of plant is so nearly true to form that it often serves 

 as a distinguishing character. There are, however, some 



