COMMELVNA VIRGINICA. COMMON DAY-FLOWER. II9 



leaves seems to be referred to the same species. Three of the 

 anthers are comparatively abortive and cross-shaped, — and a 

 fourth one is partially so modified, or in process of metamorphosis 

 to that state ; " but it is now conceded that the species is variable, 

 and that C. angustifolia of Michaux is the same as C. Virginica 

 of Linnaeus. Elliott, an early botanist, named another form C. 

 erccta, and this is also referred to our present species, — the C. 

 crccta of Linnaeus being another and distinct one. What with 

 variations and synonyms, the student may have some trouble in 

 identifying his collections. It is only in quite recent times that 

 botanists themselves seem to have agreed on the identities of 

 these variations, — and if the student is not one inclined to believe 

 that facts accurately told are just as w^ell at least as those 

 inaccurately given, and is satisfied to be " not wise beyond what 

 is written," he will have some trouble in reconciling some of the 

 statements connected with its family history. Dr. Gray, in his 

 "Manual," gives Dillenius as the author of the name Conimdyna, 

 " dedicated to the early Dutch botanists, J. and G. Commelyn," — 

 but in his " School Botany " he tells us that Linnaeus named the 

 genus for more than two of them. "There were three Com- 

 melyns, Dutch botanists; two of them were authors, the other 

 published nothing. In naming this genus for them, Linnaeus is 

 understood to have designated the two former by the full- 

 developed petals, the latter by the smaller or ab-ortive petal." 

 Linnasus, however, In his Genera Plantanun, credits Plumlerwith 

 the aud.orshlp of the name, who published a work on American 

 plants in 1 703, while Dillenius, who was Professor of Botany 

 in the University of Oxford, issued his " Hortus Elthamensis " 

 in 1732, — and Milne, in his "Dictionary" of 1770, states 

 that "Plumier named this genus Covwiclina, from John Com- 

 melln, a Dutchman, Professor of Botany at Amsterdam, and 

 author of two botanical works, entided, Hcsperidcs Bclgicc and 

 Hortus Anistclodanicnsisr All the old botanists gave the ortho- 

 graphy as Commelina, modern botanists always use Commelyna. 

 Dr. Gray adopts the latter in his " Manual ; " but in his " School 



