530 Davis: LAMARCK’S EVENING PRIMROSE 
of De Vries’s cultures is left without a name or at least without 
the authority of Seringe. I propose, however, that the name 
“* Oenothera Lamarckiana De Vries” be kept for this plant, which has 
been the subject of such extensive experimental study by De Vries 
and whose origin and behavior is a matter of such great interest 
to the geneticist. 
The name when written “ Oenothera Lamarckiana De Vries”’ is 
clear to all who have knowledge of the relation that this plant 
bears to the mutation theory. If there were evidence that “0. 
Lamarckiana De Vries”’ is or ever was a component of the American 
flora as a native species, there might be some reason to change its 
name. However, the evidence indicates that Lamarckiana has 
come to us greatly modified, that its parentage is far from pure, 
that it is in fact of hybrid origin. We are dealing with the product 
of the garden, and as such the plant may reasonably be exempt 
from a change of name that would carry endless confusion through 
the literature of experimental morphology. Should any taxono- 
mist contemplate the introduction of a new name let him first 
ponder the inscription over the grave of William Shakespeare. 
The introduction of Oenothera grandiflora Solander into England 
in 1778 marked a very important date in the development of the 
Oenothera flora over parts of Europe. This species undoubtedly 
holds the key to many puzzling herbarium sheets and records. 
Botanists do not yet realize how definite is our knowledge of this 
native American species and how clear is our information on its 
history. (See MacDougal, 1905, p. 7.) 
Oenothera grandiflora Solander was discovered by William 
Bartram in 1776 near Tensaw, Alabama, on an expedition under- 
taken at the request of John Fothergill, M.D. Solander’s original 
description in Aiton’s Hortus Kewensis, 1789, from material grown 
at Kew, states that O. grandiflora was introduced by John Fother- 
gill in 1778. A herbarium specimen in the British Museum from 
‘Hort. Fothergill 1778” makes it evident that Bartram must have 
sent seed to Fothergill. The species still occupies its original 
station in Alabama, where it was rediscovered in 1904, and there 
is abundant herbarium material from this source; also, there ar 
strains under cultivation by myself and others. As striking a" 
American novelty as this large-flowered species would naturally be- 
