104 The Life and Writings of 



ognition, that doubtful rule that accepts a well-known 

 and long-recognized name in lieu of one less well known 

 but previously described. However convenient such a 

 rule may be to the systematist in botany, it is mani 

 festly one which is capable of being applied with great 



injustice. 



THE FLORULA LUDOVICIANA. 



This work, on account of its remarkable nature, and 

 because it has justly subjected its author to severest 

 censure, deserves more than passing notice. Like very 

 many others of the works of Rafinesque, this one has 

 a piece-meal ensemble that is quite characteristic. It is 

 &quot;respectfully inscribed to Dewitt Clinton, LL. D., Gov 

 ernor of the State of New York, President of the 

 Literary and Philosophical Society of New York, and 

 president of many other learned and benevolent societies, 

 etc., etc.&quot; A preamble of five pages states the sources 

 of information for the matter contained and the reasons 

 for publishing the work. The justification for the book, 

 in Rafinesque s mind, may be found in the following 

 statement from the preamble: 



&quot;... In perusing this Flora, I was astonished to find, among 

 many blunders in nomenclature and classification, several accurate 

 descriptions and valuable additions to the knowledge of plants, 

 their geography, utility and natural history. Having, therefore, 

 compared with attention all his descriptions with the Floras of North 



