NOTES ON CERTAIN SPECIES OF ANTENNARIA. 



E LI AS Ne l so n. 



Considerable attention during recent years has been given to 

 the study of the eastern species of Antennaria. Many species of 

 the middle Atlantic states and of the prairie states of the Missis- 

 sippi valley have been characterized by Professor E. L. Greene, 

 those of the District of Columbia and vicinity in particular 

 having been the subject of much field study by the same author. 

 Mr, M. L. Fernald has published a synopsis of the New England 

 species, supplemented by subsequent papers containing notes and 

 a key. Through the field and herbarium studies of Mr. Fernald, 

 and the notes and observations of various collectors, the species 

 of the New England states are perhaps better known than those 

 of any other region of equal area in North America. The most 

 recent synopsis of the eastern species is that which has appeared 

 in Dr. Britton' s ManimL Thanks to the efforts of many collec- 

 tors, we are constantly becoming better acquainted with these 

 plants, but much remains to be learned even concerning the 

 eastern species. 



A revival of interest in any long neglected group of plants, 

 is generally attended with much describing of species, resulting 

 in many new names, some of which must sooner or later be rele- 

 gated to synonomy. It is not at all surprising, therefore, to find 

 that several of the species now generally accepted have received 

 two or more names during the recent study of this genus. 

 What in many instances appeared to be very distinct, on further 

 examination in the light of more material often proves to be less 

 deserving of the specific or perhaps sub-specific recognition at 

 first accorded it, A fair representation of a species by speci- 

 mens from different localities in its range is necessary for an 

 adequate knowledge of the plant. The variations, relationship^ 

 and distribution of each species needs to be worked out, and as 



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