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XVIII. Note on Samara leta, Linn. By G. A. ui. Esq., LL.D., 
F.L.S. &c., Reg. Prof. of Botany in the University of Glasgow. 
Read March 16th, 1847. 
PERHAPS few plants described by Linnzeus froms pecimens actually in his 
herbarium have remained so long doubtful as the one on which I am about 
to make the following observations. 
The genus Samara was instituted in 1771 by Linnzus in the * Mantissa 
Plantarum’: and he unfortunately associated with it, as a synonym to his 
only species (the S. deta), the No. 469 of the * Flora Zeylanica, of which no 
specimen existed in Hermann's herbarium, but which was referred to the 
Cornus Zeylanica sylvestris altera of Burmann's * Thesaurus Zeylanicus,’ 
tab. 31. It is not easy to explain what could have induced Linnzus to 
quote tbis figure, as it bears no resemblance to the plant he himself pos- 
sessed. Some foreign botanists, deceived by this reference to Burmann, 
appear to have supposed that Linnzeus had no specimen of what he described, 
and that Burmann's figure must be held conclusive on the point. Accord- 
ingly we find M. de Jussieu in his * Genera Plantarum, p. 379, placing the 
genus among his Rhamni, quoting the Linnean generic character and descrip- 
tion, but pointing out a discrepancy between the position of the leaves as 
indicated by Linnzeus, and that of those figured by Burmann. 
To the synonym of Burmann, Poiret in the * Encyclopédie Méthodique,’ vi. 
p. 485, adds that of Samara leta of Swartz’s * Prodromus; p. 151; and he 
gives a detailed description, partly derived from the Linnean description 
partly from Burmann’s. DeCandolle in the second volume of the * Prodedt- 
mus, while describing the genera and species of Rhamnec, omits Samara, 
S eee see beum it : m - genera formerly referred to the 
: ions, Xvil. p. 137, however, his son Says, 
“Samara, Linn. non Sw., Cornus Zeylanica, Burm. ! Zeyl. tab. 76, ad Rhamnea 
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