THE POLYPORES OF PERSOON'S HERBARIUM. 



Having on two occasions recently visited Leiden for the purpose 

 of studying Persoon's herbarium, I deem it of interest to give a short 

 account ot the historic specimens preserved there. I think it is 

 probable at the coming' Congress at Brussels, Persoon may be taken 

 as the "starting point" for the nomenclature of fungi. While I, 

 personally, attach no importance whatever to the findings of this 

 Congress, and think it is absolutely impracticable to make "rules" 

 for nomenclature and a pure waste of energy, others may not think 

 as I do. 3 In the event that Persoon is made the "legal" starting 

 point, then his herbarium will become the Mecca for all priority 

 hunters. A short account therefore will not be amiss. 



In the first place I wish to acknowledge my obligations to Dr. 

 Goethart for every kindness and facility in working in the herbarium, 

 and to Dr. Jongmans for valuable aid. 



Considering the difficulties that surrounded Persoon in his work, 

 he made a wonderful collection, but like the herbarium of Fries it is 

 largely made up of specimens that were sent to him by his corre- 

 spondents. Persoon's herbarium is chiefly deficient in the plants he 

 knew best, the plants of his own collection, but the specimens he 

 received and cited in his works are mostly preserved. The greater part 

 of the collection that is, the smaller specimens which were mounted 

 on sheets are practically complete and intact to-day, just as when 

 Persoon left them. The larger specimens were kept for many years 

 loosely in drawers, and some of them have disappeared or have been 

 eaten by insects, and from others the labels have been shifted or lost. 

 While they may have lost some of their historic value from this cause, 

 it is not serious and I think very little confusion has occurred that can 

 not be corrected. In recent years Dr. Jongmans has poisoned all of 

 these specimens and placed each in a glass covered box with the label 

 found with it so that no future deterioration or confusion can take 

 place. Quite a number of Persoon's specimens are absolutely 

 authentic, and are types in the strictest meaning of the word. Per- 

 soon has endorsed them with the name and added "Synop. fung." or 

 " Mycol. Burop.", showing they were the identical specimens on 

 which he based his descriptions. Figure 331 is a reproduction of 

 such labels. Others (and there are a great many such) are deter- 

 mined with a ? mark, especially those he received from his corre- 

 spondents. Some species are only represented by specimens marked 

 ? by Persoon. Hence for these there are really no historic specimens 

 in the collection. I rather admire the candor that Persoon must 

 have manifested with his correspondents to so mark and probably so 

 report their specimens sent for determination. It takes a great deal 

 of moral courage for a man looked upon as the highest authority, as 



2 " Coming " at the time this is written. It will probably be past before this is printed. 



3 I am firmly convinced that in the immediate past " rules " in botany have been princi- 

 pally blinds for the name jugglers, and I anticipate that in however good faith the Brussels' 

 rules may be formulated, that will be the principal use to which they will be put. 



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