386 Piper: The two eastern species of Melica 



therefore the idea expressed consecutively by Pursh, EHiott and 

 Muhlenberg that the two supposed species are distinguished by a 

 character of pubescence. There is nothing to indicate such a 

 distinction in Walter's descriptions. Michaux's name glabra may 

 naturally have suggested prominence to an opposed character. 

 Finally, Pursh may have imbibed his ideas of two species through 

 Muhlenberg, with whom he was intimate, or he may actually have 

 gotten the fact from Walter's types, and Muhlenberg may simply 



have followed Pursh. 



So far as the material in the National Herbarium goes, the 

 plant so long called M. diffitsa never has pubescent sheaths or 

 leaves, and it seems never to have been found in Virginia or Caro- 

 lina. The conclusion, therefore, seems unavoidable that the name 

 diffusa really belongs to the form of mutica with pubescent 

 sheaths ; also that it is probably the same as M. altismna Walt., 

 as Pursh indicates. 



The character of "panicula ramosissima" appears to be 

 clearly a heritage from Linnaeus* original description, rather than 

 a statement of fact. Walter's contrasting characters of **fioribis 

 subacutis" and ''floribus muticis'' are ignored by Pursh, and so 

 far as Atlantic coast specimens are concerned seem to have no 

 real basis. 



The synonymy of the eastern Melicas then seems to be as 



follows : 



Melica mutica Walt FL Car. 'iZ. 1788 



M. glabra Michx. Fl. Bor.-Am. 1 : 62. 1803. 



M, rarifli 



157, 1 810. (This is 



merely a new name proposed, considered preferable to either 

 mutica or glabra.^ 



M, rac€7Ptosa Muhl. Gram. 88. 1817. 



M. Muhlenbergiana Schultes Mant. 2: 294. 1824, (New 

 name for the above, owing to the older M, racemosa Thunb.) 

 M. mutica glabra A. Gray, Man. Ed. 5, 626. 1867. 



w 



Melica mutica diffusa A. Gray, Man. ed. 5, 626. 1867. 



M. diffusa Pursh Fl. Am. Sept. 1 : 77. 18 14. 

 M. speciosa Muhl. Gram. 87. 1817. 



.?Jf. ^///j.f/w« Walt. Fl. Car. 78. 1788. 



