83 



(Giimnnsporanyinm), as pointed out by Masnus,* for they neither grow 

 upon the plum nor produce their spores in autumn. Further confirmation 

 of this is found in Ilotli's Flonr Genua nicer, the first volume of wliicli was 

 issued tlie year following the appearance of Willdenow's work. In this 

 volume (p. 547) Pi/cciiiia siintplcx is given, and credited to Willdenow, with 

 no reference to Miehcli. while a few pages farther on in the volume the 

 common cedar apple of P^urope is listed as TrcmcUa jiiniprrina. The two 

 were evidently considered by the author to be distinct fungi. 



There seems to be no doubt, that according to our present form of 

 procedure, we must consider that the genus I'uccinia was established by 

 Willdenow in 1787, with the single species, P. simpler, a species that does 

 not belong to the IreiVuinr. What fungus Willdenow had in hand, I am 

 not prepared to say. The description fairly well applies to Coniularia 

 Pcrsicw (Schw.) Sacc, but that is a North American fungus, common in 

 America l)ut not yet reported from E'urope. So far as our present pur- 

 pose is concerned, however, it is enough to know that the type of the 

 genus Puccinia is not uredineous. Therefore, the lai-gest and best known 

 genus of plant rusts, the one that includes the chief economic species, 

 drops entirely out of the extensive family of the Vvcdinar. Probably 

 Doctor Kuntze is to be folloAved in placing undei' Dic;eoma the species 

 that have heretofore been listed under Pncviuin. as I have already pointed 

 out in my preceding paper i)efore the Academy. 



AVhether this is the final word regarding the genus Puccinia, and the 

 fungi which it has been used to cover, yet remains to be seen. It may 

 appear foolish to some to relegate to ol)Scurity a well known and long 

 established name, upon what seem to lie technical grounds. But the 

 loss of a familiar name should not stand in the way of the introduction 

 of definite rules which will lead to a reasonaldy permanent nomenclature. 

 What is most desired is that the period of trial and transition shall be as 

 short as possible, and to assist in bringing this about the study of the 

 genus Puccinia is herewith presented. 



Bot. Centr.. Vol. LXXVII, p. 5. 



