317 
capsule-valves; and the description of the petals as longer than 
the sepals fits “neither 
On historical grounds, then, the application of the name Alsine 
to Spergularia (or Delia) is inadmissible; and Alsine, Linn, may 
be regarded as synonymous with Stellaria, Linn. If 1737 were 
taken as the starting point of botanical nomenclature, Alsine 
would supersede Stel/aria, but under the International Rules and 
the American Code the nomenclature of vascular plants begins 
in 1753. 
: ad arguments for the retention of Stellaria may be stated as 
ollows: 
1. The description of Stellaria in Gen, Pl. ed, 5, (1754), i 
more accurate and complete than that of Alsine: it iethaton 
the important characters ‘‘ petala bipartita’’ and “‘ capsula 
vague, covering the common characters of two discordant 
elements, and it is inaccurate as regards the relative length of 
sepals and petals; the number of capsule valves is not mentioned. 
2. Eight species were comprised in Stellaria in Sp. ed. I, 
pp. 421, 1196, five of which are still recognised as belon “te to 
the genus, nam ey: S, nemorum, oi lpabrel radians, Holostea 
v 
emarginate. Alsine comprised two species, one of which was a 
Stellaria. 
3. The five species under Stellaria are typical, whereas the 
single species under Alsine (S. media) is aberrant, the androecium 
having become reduced in correlation with the more frequent 
occurrence of autogamy. 
4. e is no ambiguity about the name sions whereas - 
Alsine has been used for three different gen 
5. The first author who united Alsine with Stellaria chose the 
latter generic name. 
6. The name Stellaria has been in general use for the genus 
from 1753 down to the present day. Alsine has been used since 
1893 in place of Stellaria, by the adherents of the American Code 
of Nomenclature, and by Otto Kuntze. 
The fact that the name Alsine is more ancient than Stellaria 
cannot be adduced in favour of retaining the former by those 
who recognise 1753 as the starting point of botanical nomen- 
clature. Linnaeus replaced Alsine, Tourn. by Stellaria, Linn., 
and quoted the former as a synonym.? He made a new genus 
Alsine, Linn. for the reception of two pentandrous Alsineae. 
The fact that one of these (A. media) is now recognised as 
belonging to Stellaria does not justify the revival of a Tourne- 
fortian name which Linnaeus deliberately rejected in favour of 
one of his own invention 
tellaria, ik is Callitriche, Linn., but the name has not been taken 
up ae other botan 
+ Cyrill. Cha rag p. 36 (1784). 
t Gen. Pl. ae 5, p. 193 (1754). 
