BICKNELL: FERNS AND FLOWERING PLANTS OF NANTUCKET 427 
1908; first flowers July 1, 1912, everywhere in full flower July to. 
The fruit remains green as late as the middle of September, 
maturing later in that month and in October. Type from near 
Long Pond, July 10, 1912, in full flower, in Herb. N. Y. Botanical 
Garden. 
In color of bark and form of leaf this winterberry often calls 
to mind Jlex verticillata (L.) A. Gray rather than I. bronxensis, 
notwithstanding its nearer relationship with the latter. Like each 
of them it has a parallel thin-leaved shade form and a broader- 
leaved cyclophylla form. 
This well-arisen scion of J. bronxensis largely replaces that 
species on Nantucket and to a less extent supplants it on Mar- 
thas Vineyard, but I have never seen it on Long Island. In its 
authentic pattern it bears a contrast to I. bronxensis that is alto- 
gether striking in plants so nearly related. Not any doubt need 
be entertained that it is no mere casual variation of that species. 
It is too well declared in the Nantucket flora to have had other 
cause than some broadly operating influence that has drawn it 
Strongly away from the ordinary mainland type, albeit without 
having effected a wholly secure detachment. Connecting forms 
denote well enough its immediate parent, yet everywhere among 
such confusing intermediates it reports its own individual claim 
and bears a regional and insular stamp that may well be approved 
by a name. It is perhaps of no importance at all to classification 
Whether this name be of trinomial or of binomial structure. The 
Status of a plant once understood, it neither adds to nor detracts 
from the taxonomic facts it stands for, whether it be called by a 
tame made up of two factors or of three. The really important 
question would seem rather to be, how far a third symbol may 
needlessly encumber speech and writing and err still further in 
°verweighting nomenclature by leading straightway, and logically, 
. the Polynomial. Here assuredly has taken its source that 
Fevived polynomialism already upon us which proceeds unmindful 
that a name is not a classification; and this notwithstanding that 
the efficient binomial ever perfectly denotes its object, whether in 
in of distinction small or great, provided only that it be worthy to 
aga at all. Its function is nominative, not classificatory. It 
* opposed to the false precision of the multiple name now fast 
