On Some Species OF DODECATHEON. 
The western members of this strictly American genus had 
long met with but indifferent treatment at the hands of Ameri- 
botanists. Published, as all except one of them had been, in 
Europe, by men who had diagnosed them in the living state, 
either on their native soil, or in European gardens, or in both 
places—published, therefore, by those who were in possession 
of a good knowledge of the plants, and whose judgment ought 
to have been deferred to,—it fell to the lot of them all to get 
placed, in the Synoptical Flora, as mere varieties of D. Media, 
the only member of the genus which botanists of eastern 
America had means of knowing well. 
The first step in the way of reparation was well taken, by 
the late Dr. Gray, in a paper printed in the September number 
of the Botanical Gazette for the year 1886. I quote his open- 
ing paragraph : 
* Probably every botanist who has turned his attention to 
this genus, has suspected it to be of more than one species 
But those who [upon a mere herbarium acquaintance with 
the plants, it will be understood | have attempted to deal with 
the numerous now extant forms have been baffled in their 
endeavors to distinguish and define them. In the Synoptical 
Flora of North Ameriea I could do no better than to arrange 
the forms loosely under seven varieties. If I have now done 
better in the attempted discrimination of five species the 
credit is largely due to indications and specimens supplied to 
me by two western correspondents, Mr. Suksdorf, of Washing- 
ton Territory, and Prof. L. F. Henderson, of Oregon, to the 
latter especially in pointing out to me the anomalous charac- 
ter of the form which I have accordingly designated by his 
name." 
