The North American Neilli^, 



The recent discovery of a strongly cliaracterized ne^v con- 

 gener of Sjyinva opidifolia, Linn, has led to a critical exami- 

 nation and comparison of the various forms, especially the 

 western, and has rendered necessary an examination of the 

 evidence as to what generic name these shrubs, as excluded 

 from Spircca, ought to bear. Their large albuminous seeds 

 so thoroughly preclude their retention in that genus, that no 

 authors now defend the Linnsean idea. 



Cambessedes in 1824, apparently upon the vesicular carpels 

 alone, without having discovered that the seeds were albu- 

 minous, elevated the Linnsean type to subgeneric rank, under 

 the name Physocarpos. In 1836 Eafinesque proposed the 

 entire severance of this type from Spircea. He is therefore 

 the author of the genus Physocatpa, although Maximowicz, 

 who much more recently adopted the views of Eafinesque as 

 well as the name Phjsocarpus, is accredited, by those Ameri- 

 can botanists who follow him, as the author of the genus. 



If the genus is to be recognized^ then certainly Eafinesque, 

 not Maximowicz, is the one to be credited with the authorship. 

 This notwithstanding that Eafinesque himself held as valid, 

 Necker's genus Fhijsocarpon in the Caryophyllacea? ( date 

 1790 ). Possibly at the moment of publishing the homonym 

 he was forgetful of the fact that he had himself published 

 si^ecies in tlie genus of Necker. He was a man well versed in 

 liuguistics generally, and is not likely seriously to have 

 regarded Physocarpon, Phijsocarpus and Phjjsocmpa as 

 baino' auvthiut^ more than one and the same Greek-made 



generic name. 



But Eafinesque, recognizing a number of species of these 



December 10, 1889. 



