SAGINA SAGINOIDES 63 



does the var. macrocarpa ; but the two often occur side by side in the 

 wetter sitviations. The var. typica descends to lower altitudes (ca. 

 550 m.), and the var. macrocarpa to higher altitudes (ca. 1320 m.); 

 but the stations overlap a great deal.* The latitudinal range 

 of the two varieties is practically identical, as the var. typica occurs 

 in Iceland, Scandinavia, Central Europe, Asia, North America, and 

 Greenland, as well as in Scotland (see Lindman op. cit). 



As to the respective names the plants should bear if they 

 are regarded (erroneously regarded, as I think) as different 

 species, I submit that Eeichenbach's names have not, in recent 

 discussions, received due recognition. The trivial names of 

 Keichenbach are legally correct : he was the first author to 

 name the two plants as separate species : his figures are less 

 faulty than those of his predecessors : there is nothing in the 

 original descx'iption to invalidate his choice of the type : there is 

 no doubt or ambiguity or confusion regarding the identity of his 

 plants : later authors, including such an eminent systematist as 

 Beck von Mannagetta {loc. ci^.), have accepted his names ; and hence 

 I can see no valid objection whatever (supposing the two plants 

 are regarded as different species) against the names Sacjina macro- 

 carpa (Maly, op. cit.) for the larger plant and Sagina sagino'ides 

 (Linn, sub nomine Spcrgula, emend. Eeichenbach sub nom. Sper- 

 gella) for the smaller plant. If it be contended that the name 

 Sagina sagino'ides has under the new circumstances become a 

 nomen confusum, then I think the name S. scotica (Druce, loc. cit.) 

 holds the field ; but I should not agree to the rejection of a 

 Linnaean trivial name where the confusion is so slight as in this 

 case. If, indeed, such a contention were upheld, how many 

 LinnaBan names, either generic or specific, would remain valid ? 



Whilst discussing this nomenclatorial matter, one may perhaps 

 be pardoned for alluding to the form of such names as Sagina 

 sagino'ides. By the International Eules, one has to reject such 

 names as Castanea Castanea ; but it must be admitted that names 

 of the latter form, whilst doubtless objectionable from some points 

 of view, are less nonsensical than such names as Sagina sagino'ides 

 and Gerastium cerastio'ides. 



The actual outcome of the whole discussion is that two very 

 closely allied plants, properly distinguished and figured by 

 Eeichenbach more than seventy years ago, have been brought 

 into prominence, and their characters and distribution worked 

 out in some detail. It is also clear that, even with precisely the 

 same critical plants before them, systematic botanists cannot 

 always agree as to the characters, the nature, and the status 

 which these plants actually possess ; and until agreement has 

 been reached regarding the status or rank of a plant, it is, in the 

 nature of the case, quite impossible to attain unanimity with 

 regard to the name it shall bear. 



* S. procumbens is recorded by White (Fl. Perthshire, p. 86) up to 1000 m. ; 

 but all these higher altitudes attributed to S.i^rocnmbens now need revision, as 

 this species has been confused with S. sagino'ides var. typica. 



