Rydberg : RocKV Mountain flora 317 



vetensis Rydb., are made synonyms of E. radicatus. E. vetensis 

 has an involucre of two series of subequal bracts, a simple pappus, 

 consisting of bristles only, of which some are occasionally shorter. 

 Both E. Parryi and E. Scribneri have 3 or 4 series of bracts, more 

 imbricated and more fiat, obovate-cuneate achenes and double 

 pappus, the outer squamellate. Both are closely related to E. 

 montanensis, which Nelson refers to Wyomingia. 



Erigeron yellowstonensis a. Nels. Bot. Gaz. 31: 198. 1900 

 Erigeron lapiluteus A. Nels.; Coult. & Nels. New Man. Cent. 



Rocky Mts. 530. 1909. 



Professor Nelson states in the New Manual that Erigeron yellow- 

 stonensis is a name to be rejected, but he does not state on what 

 ground, probably because it is of barbaric origin, regarded from a 

 Latin standpoint. But what should be said about E. lapiluteus 

 which is to replace it? Is it Latin? It is probably meant to be 

 derived from lapis, stone, and luteus, yellow. In making a com- 

 pound word the Romans usually took the stem of the first word 

 and connected it with the second word by means of the connecting 

 vowel i. The stem of lapis is lapid, as seen from the genitive 

 lapidis. The proper form would then have been lapidiluteus. 

 But what would that have meant? Usually the Romans placed 

 the modifying word first (not always though), as is done in the 

 English, and the name Erigeron lapidiluteus would mean the 

 "stone-yellow fieabane." The intention was evidently to name 

 it the "fleabane of the yellow stone." The only proper way to 

 express this would be by the specific name lapidis lutei or, as it 

 has become the custom in botany to capitalize proper names, and 

 use a hyphen when the specific name consists of more than one 

 word, Lapidis-lutei or Lutei-lapidis, as the order of the adjective 

 is indifferent. 



Professor Nelson states also that "the variety droebachensis [of 

 E. acris] probably does not occur in our range." Erigeron droe- 

 bachensis Muell., is as common in the Rockies as is E. yelloivston- 

 ensis. The question is whether they should be kept apart speci- 

 fically. The only difference I can find is that the latter is more 

 hairy with shorter hairs, decidedly glandular-puberulent in the 

 inflorescence, and the involucre is more decidedly hirsute. In the 



