82 



first spL'L-ic'S yiililislu'd uiuli-r a new .iicuns as the tyitc speoie'S to Avliich 

 the genus is to bo invariably anchored, and from wiiicli its essential char- 

 actors are to be drav.n, the cedar apples must be listed under the Linna^au 

 genus Tremelld, while the fate of the name Piiccinin was left in doubt. 



In the meantime the amended rules of nomenclature by the American 

 Committee have been distributed, and although these recognize the great 

 value of types, a specimen used ])y the author as tyite of the species, and 

 a species as type of the genus, they provide other ways of determining 

 the type of a genus than always taking the lirst species named under it. 

 The new rules require that the intent of the author, or if that is not 

 ascertainable, the usage of his followers, shall be respected. 



If we examine the status of the three genera. Tmiiclhi. (liiJiuiosi)oniii- 

 gium and Piicciiiia, under the present rules, we will tind that the first 

 becomes a genus of algae, not longer to lie incln(h'd among the fungi, the 

 second is restored to tlie position it has long occupied, while the third 

 is well nigh lost in the toils. 



The name Piicciiiia Avas introdm-ed into botanical literature by ^Micheli 

 in 172'.», and is conse(inently pre-Limuean. It was employed by Haller 

 in two different works prior to 17o8, the initial date for the operation of 

 the law of priority, and by the same author in his HistorUi sfiritiiiiii iiidi- 

 ijriKinnii HilrctUr iiicJiodtn (\'ol. Ill, p. V2(>} of ITliS. The last Avork, liOAV- 

 eA'er, does not employ Innomial names, and is not to be used in establish- 

 ing modern nomenclature. Another early author, Avho cites the name 

 I'uic'ui'ki. is Adanson in his FamiJhH <hs J'huitcs (Vol. II, p. S) of 17G.3. He 

 adopts both the name and the desci'iption of the genus from Micheli, but 

 does not mention any species. There is a failure, therefore, to establish 

 the genus on accomit of the lack of a type species. 



The next oldst author to employ the name is Willdenow in his Flora; 

 BcroVnicnuis, of 1787. AVilldenoAV characterizes his genus Pnccinia as fol- 

 loAVs: "('(jrpiif! ci/liinlrucctnii i<(iiiniihi(x ((iiidatis rdtlintiin posifis, clasticr 

 c.rsiliciitiJxis fdrctinii." Under this genus he places a single species, 

 Piirciiiid shiiplc.r, Avhieh is described as "/'. i-orixirc ci/liiiiJrico siiniilicissimo 

 (jlifiisii." It is said to occur on the trunks of plum trees (Pninits 

 (i.nii('ni<ica'J in autumn, and to be rare in the vicinity of Berlin. 

 Although reference is made to Micheli, yet careful comparison shows con- 

 clusively that WilldenoAv's plant Avas different from that of the Italian 

 author. Moreover, it could not liave Iieeu one of the cedar apples 



