13 PITTONIA. 
San Diego, with white pappus, have already formed the basis of 
my new M. breviseta. 
That subdivision of Mrieroseris marked by variously triangular 
and almost or quite plane pappus-pales does not differ, habitally, 
from the other subdivisions; but the differentiation of species 
is more difficult and doubtful. Taking M. Bigelovit, the original 
member of it, as the type of the group, it is certain that it was 
an aggregate species from the very first; for, immediately upon 
the publication of so strongly characterized a plant as my M. 
acuminata, I had word from Dr. Gray, who at once recognized 
its validity, that he had been in possession of a specimen of it 
even from Bigelow, and that it had entered into the composition 
of his original M. Bigeloviz. How many others may have been 
a part of that species, or what one particular form should be 
left under that name, I know not. Taking the figures in Whip- 
ple’s Report, plate xvii, representing a villous achene from the 
outer circle, and a glabrous one from the disk, and their pappus, 
as typical, it still remains difficult to settle upon a type, so very 
numerous are the forms making more or less near approach to 
what these figures seem to represent. 
My earliest opinion, formed after several years of field study 
of them, was that certain smaller plants common on hillsides 
and dry sandy land generally, were the real Æ. Bigelovii, and 
that a larger plant, one never seen but along the Bay shores, on 
sandy elevations amid patches of Salicornia and Cakile, was to 
be new. Yet, before I came to the point of publishing I had 
reversed the opinion, and took the small upland plant for the 
new one, naming it M. intermedia.’ At present I find myself 
forced back again to my earliest view, namely, that the smaller 
and upland plant—my own M. intermedia—if not the absolute 
M. Bigelovit, is an aggregate embracing it; and I here offer a 
diagnosis of the exclusively lowland species, under the name I 
assigned it in manuscript in the year 1886. 
1 ERYTHEA, iii, 100. 
