HEMEROCALLIS AURANTIACA I9I 



is a matter of uncertainty. It may be a plant of wild origin 

 and be somewhat representative of a wild species, or it may 

 be a hybrid with some type of H.Ju/va as one parent. The 

 extension of the species name to include other plants of 

 horticultural origin or plants of unknown origin from the 

 Orient is unwarranted and the extension to wild types is 

 not based on critical study. The H. aurantiaca major is said 

 to be a seedling probably of accidental hybridization. At 

 any rate there is no definite evidence that it is a member of 

 a true botanical species or variety, although such may be 

 the case. 



The botanical names H. aurantiaca and H. aurantiaca 

 major should, perhaps, be retained at least until a critical 

 study of the wild Day Lilies of the Orient has been made. 



The horticultural status of these two plants and of others 

 with which they are frequently confused is clear. In each 

 case a single plant was propagated as a clon. Each plant 

 possessed, and still possesses, individual distinction which is 

 of importance in horticulture and which it is necessary to 

 recognize in horticulture. Confusion arises where specific 

 and varietal names are given to such plants and where the 

 attempt is made to extend these names to include more clons 

 of horticultural origin and uncertain relationship. 



The situation recited above regarding the identity and 

 the status of the two Day Lilies in question also exists for 

 other Day Lilies and for various plants of almost every type 

 of plant in cultivation. Especially is this true for those 

 whose individual character which often involves a hybrid or 

 a polyploid nature is maintained by vegetative propagation. 



It would seem that the interests of both horticulture and 

 botanical nomenclature will best be served if (i) individual 

 plants of perennials that are to be cultivated as horticultural 

 clons are given horticultural names; if (2) plants that come 

 into culture are not named as new species or assigned to old 

 species unless there is definite knowledge that they are of 

 wild origin and are fairly representative of a group of wild 



