31l 
species included in the genus when originally published (publica- 
tion of the genera of seed plants dating from the issue of 
Linnaeus’s “‘ Species Plantarum ”’ in 1753). 
The remaining Articles are concerned with the principles which 
should be followed in determining the types of genera, and are 
framed in such a spirit as to warrant the hope expressed that an 
international agreement upon the types of all genera may be 
arrived at. 
Moss suggested that Alsine, Wahlenb., should be treated as 
a nomen conservandum under Article 20 of the International 
berg, more might be said in favour of this course. hat it 
would really amount to is the supersession of Minuartia, Linn. 
(1753), a generic name about which there is no ambiguity, by 
Alsine, Linn. (1762) pro parte, non Linn. (1768). 
A new generic name, Alsinopsis, was proposed for Alsine, 
Wahlenb., in 1903 by Small,* who was perhaps unaware 
that the genus in question already possessed seventeen names, 
two of which date from 1753. Even if Fenzl’s sections of Alsene 
are regarded as independent genera, the generic names A/sv- 
nanthe, Reichb., and Mononeuria, Reichb. (see below) are avail- 
able for the North American species. 
The synonymy of Alsine, Wahlenb. was given in some detail 
in Dalle Torre et Harms, Gen. Siphonog. p. 157 (1900), but the 
genus was attributed erroneously to Scopoli (as in the Index 
Kewensis), three synonyms were omitted, and Gypsophytum, 
Adans. was quoted as a synonym. ut Gypsophytum was 
to Gypsophytum.§ 
Although for convenience’ sake the writer has hitherto referred 
to Alsine, Wahlenb. in accordance with the usual custom, the 
genus should really be ascribed to Gaertner, who was the first 
to distinguish it by the number of the capsule valves, and gave 
A. mucronata as the type species. Wahlenberg himself quoted 
Gaertner’s description and figure as defining the genus.|| 
In view of the confusion of nomenclature it may not be super- 
fluous to give the principal synonymy of Menuartia, Linn. 
Minuartia, Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. 1, p. 89 (1753); Gen. PI. ed. 5, 
p. 39 (1754); Hiern in Journ. Bot. 1899, p. 320 (sensu ampliato) ; 
H. et J. Groves in Bab. Man. Brit. Bot. ed. 9, p. 60 (1904); 
S. E. United States, ed. I, p. 419 (1903). 
m. Pl. ii. p. 256 (1763). 
564. 
5 
