JUN 19 1902 



A REVISION OF THE ELEPHANTOPEAE. — I.* 

 C. F. Baker. 



Several years ago, while collecting in Alabama with Prof. 

 Earle, the writer became convinced after numerous compari- 

 sons and observations in the field, that the three names 

 Carolinianus, tomeiitosus, and nudatus with the very brief 

 descriptions accompanying them in the manuals, did not at 

 all represent the true status of the genus Elephantopus in 

 the South. While at St. Louis, through the kindness of Dr. 

 Trelease, an examination was made of the literature and of 

 all the material at the Shaw Garden. Later, through the 

 kindness of Dr. Robinson and Dr. Rose, the material of the 

 Gray Herbarium and of the National Herbarium was also 

 studied. Unfortunately the studies were not finished at that 

 time, departure for the field preventing, but Dr. Trelease, 

 with his usual hearty desire to place facilities in the hands of 

 students, kindly forwarded the Shaw Garden material to 

 Stanford University where this paper was prepared in Prof. 

 Dudley's laboratory and various favors from the latter are 

 here acknowledged. 



These opportunities were wholly unexpected or arrange- 

 ments would have been made for carrying out, in Alabama, a 

 series of very important and necessary experiments, throwing 

 lio-ht on many points which must remain obscure until such 

 work is done. The range of variability in the flowers should 

 be studied with a large quantity of fresh material at hand. 

 No one thing of greater value could be done than the pro- 

 duction and study of authentic hybrids between each two of 

 the three species. Some most interesting surprises are likely 

 to result from this. Seeds from a single parent plant (of 

 which seeds the parentage is sure) should be raised under 



* Presented by title to The Academy of Science of St. Louis, Marcli 3, 

 1902. 



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