571 



immediately distinguish recurva from any other aristate Lastraea. . . . 

 1 alkide to the minute, sessile, grain-like glands scattered over both 

 surfaces of the frond : the jagged, eglandulose involucre: and the 

 long, slender, laciniated scales of the stipes" (Phytol. ii. 509). It is 

 true, that on this oblong variety the glands are few, and several of the 

 scales scarcely laciniated at all ; but the presence of those specifie 

 characters is nevertheless indisputable. As to the jagged edges of the 

 involucrum, I fear that will be found an untenable character, between 

 dilatatum and foenesecii. 



To sum up, I must consider Mr. Lowe's specific name to have all 

 in its favour. The species was first announced by that botanist, as 

 something distinct from dilatatum and spinulosum. Its first specific 

 name was printed in his paper. He showed unequivocally which was 

 to be taken as the true typical form of his species. The second, or 

 oblong form may be still only a variety of the type, and not specifi- 

 cally distinct. But if distinct, that affords no sufficient reason for 

 changing the specific name of the type. 



I have now only to make good the charge of innovation on botani- 

 cal usage, implied in Mr. Newman's reason for changing the name of 

 Lowe's fern. The pages of the 'Phytologist' have lately included 

 communications about an alleged new species of Ranunculus, under 

 name of R. Lenormandi. There can be no doubt whatever that this 

 same species has been grouped with another under the common 

 name of R. hederaceus. Twice, at least, in this country it has been 

 published as a named variety of the latter. But no botanist has sug- 

 gested that the older name of R. hederaceus should be quashed, as 

 the name applied to " a group of species," or " purposely and advis- 

 edly " to what are now received as two species. Nor, in like argu- 

 ment, do those botanists who distinguish R. fluitans and R. circina- 

 tus as species, discard the name of R. aquatilis : they merely restrict 

 this latter to the more usual or typical forms, and apply new names 

 to the others. 



Under limitations dictated by convenience or certainty, I would 

 agree with Mr. Newman's view, that a name given to a group of spe- 

 cies, should be retained for the group ; each included species receiv- 

 ing its own specially applied name. But I cannot see that Mr. 

 Lowe's foenesecii should come under the rule, supposing such a rule 

 in force, which is not the case now. 



Hewett C. Watson. 



Thames Ditton, June 8, 1846. 



