A brief conspectus of the species of Kneiffia, with the characteriza- 
tion of a new allied genus 
FRANCIS W. PENNELL 
It has recently been shown that the best-known specific name 
among our sundrops must be transferred from one species to 
another. While such a change is always peculiarly unfortunate, 
the desire for a definite nomenclature makes it unavoidable. 
In tradition the name ‘“‘fruticosa’”’ had been handed down as 
applying to the glandular-fruited element of the aggregate at 
first known by that name, whereas study of the Clayton Herbarium 
specimen upon which Linnaeus based the species showed that the 
name must be associated with the plant bearing on the capsule 
glandless incurved hairs. 
Nomenclature should follow definite rules of procedure, but 
surely scientific truth may raise the question as to the advisability 
of continuing the name ‘‘fruticosa” for any species of a group of 
plants with herbaceous, strictly annual stems. May we not plead 
the right to reject a proved nomen falsum? Moreover, from this 
standpoint in freeing our most widely known Kneiffia from the 
onus of the word “‘fruticosa,” Dr. Blake has hardly improved 
nomenclature—surely not in the opinion of our genetical friends— 
by the substitution of the name “‘Aybrida.” One of the incentives 
to the present study has been the hope of finding for this species 
some appropriate name. 
Another incentive has been the desire to place correctly a 
plant characteristic of the restricted but most unique prairie 
near New York City, the Hempstead Plains. This plant, which 
seems amply distinct, appears below as K. velutina. 
I present the results of this study with hesitation. Species- 
lines have not always been found clear, and in any genus so near 
to Oenothera one may expect the same tendency to split into 
incipient species. However, before this genus likewise is selected 
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