306 AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 
principal uses for a name at all is the same spoken word. If two 
names sound alike they may be considered as synonyms; for syn- 
onyms are principally to be avoinded because of confusion of 
an enunciated appellations. Otherwise, a system of distinguish- 
ing plants more satisfactory perhaps for tabulation purposes 
might be suggested such as is applied to fixed stars. In any case 
the names Galearis and Galearia, Calistachya and Callistachys are 
referred to here in regard to another instance of synonymy in 
which a stronger reason for regarding names as synonyms has 
not been admitted by our manuals, and notably the two manuals 
already referred to. 
The name Wolfia Horkel, (1839) was antedated by a Wolfia 
Dennst. (1818), a Wolfia Sprengel, (1825) and a Wulffia Necker 
(1799). Though not perhaps named after the same person, the 
three above-mentioned are practically identical, and to most 
of us there will seem less of difference between these, whether 
written with an o and two f’s or a u, than there was the difference 
between Galearis and Galearia on the ground either of derivation 
or spelling. It would seem then that if one rejects Galearis, one 
would have greater reason for rejecting the name Wolffia for the 
Lemnaceous plants. ; 
In fact this genus of rather insignificant plants has been rather 
unfortunate with the number of synonyms, applied to it as the 
following resumé of names will show. 
BRUNIERA Franch, in Billotia 25, (1864). 
Wolffia Horkel ex Schleid. Linnaea XIII 389 (1839) = Wolffia 
Kunth Enum. Pl. III. 4 (1841) not Wolfia Dennst. Schluess. Hort. 
Malab. 38. (1818) nor Wolfia Sprengel, Syst. I. 808 (1825) nor 
Wulfiia Necker, Elem. I. 35 (1790). 
Grantia Griff. ex Voigt Hort. Suburb. Cale. 692 (1845) et 
Notul III. 223 (1851) not Grantia Bois. Diag. Ser. I, vi. 79 (1845). 
Horkelia Reichenb. ex Bartl. Ord. 76 (1830) not Horkelia 
Cham & Schlecht in Linnaea II., 26, (1827). 
Bruniera columbiana (Karsh.) 
Wollfia columbiana Karsten. 
Grantia Columbiana (Karst.) MacM. (1892). 
Bruniera punctata (Griseb.) 
Wollfia punctata Griseb. 
