LINNAEUS AS AN EVOLUTIONIST 77 



the restoration of the plant to its old environ- 

 ment, it reverts to the original type form. 

 One sees at a glance that this is not our 

 twentieth century idea of a botanical variety; 

 but it is the Linnsean idea, and with that 

 alone we are here concerned. The man makes 

 so small account of varieties, from the taxo- 

 nomic point of view, that he concludes his 

 discussion of the topic with an apology for 

 giving them place and mention in his books 

 of systematic botany. " Variation," he says, 

 "is in such matters as the size of the plant, 

 doubleness of flower, a crisped or curled 

 foliage, a difference of color, odor, flavor, 

 etc." But he adds: "Many varieties of 

 plants are in favor with gardeners, and agri- 

 culturists, others with florists, while still 

 others are in esteem with pharmacists." From 

 these expressions it is plain that Linnseus 

 did not consider these changeable and even 

 transient forms worthy of any serious con- 

 sideration by botanists proper, and admitted 

 them to his books only as in condescension 

 to the wants of those classes of tradespeople 

 whom he mentions. It may here be added 

 that in almost all more recent botany, varieties 

 such as LinnaBUS had in mind when he wrote 

 the definition find no place. One looks for 



