334 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 
have guessed rightly, as we knew before hand we should, when 
so many alternatives were offered. In any case to try to determine 
what the ‘“‘codists’’ of one persuasion, or the other might do in 
any given case where elementary logic may be thrown “‘to the 
winds’’ with impunity, is one of the lightest and most useless of 
occupations. According to the ‘“‘American Code” the plant in 
question ought to have been called Pteretis nodulosa (Michx.) 
nov. comb., what the codists of any belief or none will call it 
depends to much on individual whims or so-called “interpretation” 
to be worth while venturing a guess, as the case in question actually 
showed beyond our expectation. 
PSYLLIUM. 
By habit as well as good characters of inflorescence Plantago 
Psyllum Linn. as also Plantago arenaria. stand apart so strikingly 
that they may well be considered in the segregated genus Psyllium. 
The genus was recognized by the ancients and many a one with 
fewer reasons for recognition is now maintained without question. 
We have often insisted that plants monoicous, and dioicous are 
not to be put in a genus with those, that have perfect flowers. 
In this very family the Plantaginaceae we have the genus 
Limosella that enjoys scarcely any other distinctive characters 
than such emphasized here and no one questions the validity 
thereof. Botanists would do well to be consistent in generic 
recognitions. The trivial name of the type Plantago Psyllium 
Linn. was used for this plant in generic designation by Dioscorides 
(4: 170) and was accepted by the older botanists. The plants 
of this proposed genus group differ from Plantago proper in being 
annual leafy-stemmed plants with flowers in capitate clusters 
instead of spikes. One species is reported from our region. 
Psyllium (Diosc.) Juss., Gen. 90 (1789). 
Psyllium arenarium (W. & K.) Mirb., Hist. XIV. 333 (1814). 
Plantago arenaria W. & K., Pl. Par. Hung. I, 5: pl. 51, (1894) 
MARGARITA LISTER. 
The name Margarita Lister' for a plant of the Myxomycetes 
base on the type Physarum metallicum Berk & Br.’ can not obtain 
because there is an older application of the genus name Mar- 
t Lister, A., Monograph of Mycetozoa, 2 
asi) adorns ry i “i 256 (1911). 
7 Mag. Zool. Bot., I, 49 (1838). 
