NEW PUBLICATIONS. 197 
Saffina ciliata, Fries. Placing as synonyms of this S, dep^essa^ C. 
F, Scliultz, and S. patula, Jordarij M. Grenier writes, — " It is possible 
to dispute as long as one cares to do over the descriptions of MM. 
Fries, Schultz, and Jordan, and to conclude from them either that the 
plants referred to belong to one species or more than one. This doubt- 
less arises from climatic influences having, in different places, rendered 
different states of the plants more habitual, and each author having 
been involuntarily led to exaggerate the value of certain inconstant 
characters. By taking account of the letter of the text in a manner 
too absolute, a botanist may easily be led to CQnclude that a descrip- 
tion does not fit a plant he has before his eyes, and then that such 
a plant constitutes a new species. It is incontestably this that has 
happened to MM. Schultz and Jordan, when they have refused to 
see in their plants what Fries has akeady named- Thus M. Jordan 
says that Fries attributes to his plant, a nodding capsule, ciliated 
leaves, and glabrous peduncles, whilst his own possesses contrary 
characters. To this too absolute argumentation I answer that I 
have received from Fries (who besides has published his plant in Herb. 
Norm, part 1, no, 42) examples both with glabrous and glandular 
peduncles, with ciliated and glabrescent leaves, with nodding and erect 
capsules. This is not all. I have received from M. Jordan himself 
examples of his S. patula with glabrous and glandular pedicels, and 
even upon the same branch with ciliated and glabrescent leaves. . . . 
What to me altogether dispenses with discussion is that I have before 
me examples from the three authors, and if the specimens were mixed 
I am convinced that it would be impossible for the authors themselves 
to recognize their own. The plants of Sweden, the Palatinate, Lyons, 
and the Jura, are perfectly identical. I have received the same from 
Constantinople, which shows that its area is really a wide one." 
Sediims, "In 1861 I received from MM. Lloyd, Boreau, Chabois- 
seau, and Callay, living specimens of S. elegans. The plants of Nantes, 
Angers, La Vienne, and the Ardennes had all more or less the glaucous 
tint; but planted in garden soil I obtained in 1862 plants with only 
a doubtful glaucous hue, and in 1863 there did not remain a single 
tuft of 8, elegans with a truly glaucous tint, for all of them had changed 
to green, and thus become Wirtgen's S, aureum. I had myself brought 
in 1861, from the neighbourhood of Besanfon, splendid specimens of 
S. eleganB, of which the brilliant silver}^ tint was very conspicuous. 
