The genus Heliocarpus 
E. E. Watson 
The latest literature, treating of the genus Heliocarpus, 
consists of two articles by Rose* and a review of the first of these 
by E.G. Baker.t A perusal of these articles and the examination 
of a large number of specimens of the genus in the herbarium of 
the New York Botanical Garden, in the herbaria of Columbia 
and Harvard Universities, and in the United States National 
Herbarium, all of which institutions very kindly loaned their 
specimens, pha hig the desirability of a general review of the 
genus at this tim 
The genus was rrr by Linnaeus in 1737 in the Hortus 
Cliffortianus. Here appeared his description of a new genus 
and species, which he called Heliocarpos americana} together 
with a drawing of a portion of the plant. In the Species Plant- 
arum, 1753, Linnaeus merely refers the reader to the description 
of Heliocarpos americana in the Hortus Cliffortianus. It is to 
be noted that Linnaeus preserved no specimen in his herbarium. 
There are, however, specimens labeled H. americana in the Bank- 
sian and Sloane Herbaria. 
In 1821 the description of H. popayanensis H. B. K. ap- 
peared. This description is quite full and the differences between 
the new species and H. americana are clearly pointed out. This 
* A synopsis of the species of Heliocarpus. Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 5: 
125-129. pl. 7-10. 1897. 
Notes on Heliocat bus, with new species. Ibid. 8: 315-317. 1905. 
+ Two old American types. I].—Heliocarpus americana L, Jour. Bot. 36: 
130 132. 1898. 
The correct gender of the noun Heliocarpus has been in much dispute. 
In general, Latin or latinized names of pnts a ‘Sepecsalty cx trees are 
feminine, but the rule has ceptions. 
Classical Latin authors are by no means unanimous, and not setae con- 
sistent, the same plant name being treated sometimes as masculine and some- 
times as feminine by the same author. Linnaeus considered the noun femi- 
nine, so do Baker and Rose. Most other botanists, however, wher have used 
the noun Heliocarpus have considered it masculine; and mos nae plant 
names ending in -carpus, are usually treated as masculine. pis are to 
consider Heliocarpus feminine, consistency would demand the same sala 
for all such plant names. It would seem unwise, therfore, to oppose the 
momentum of long-established usage in an unimportant t detail. 
109 
