50 BOTANICAL GAZETTE *[ JULY 
In 1753 Linnaeus* described under the name Z. macu/ata the plant 
that goes under that name at present. The characters, ‘leaves pilose, 
spotted, calyx red,” indicate this, as do also the comparisons made 
with the type material under the direction of Dr. Torrey.* Linnaeus, 
however, in the second edition of Species Plantarum, and in his subse- 
quent works, confuses our new form with &. macu/ata, “ dichotomous, 
branches patulate, leaves serrate, flowers axillary and solitary, fruit 
smooth.” Willdenow’s? £. maculata is for the most part £. hirsuta 
(fruit smooth, etc.), but “calyx red,” on the other hand, refers rather 
to the #. maculata of Sp. Pi. ed. 1. Pursh* describes £. maculata as 
‘“‘erect-patulate, pilose, involucre of the florets white,” which evidently 
refers to £. hirsuta. The name macu/ata is correctly applied by Torrey, 
Bigelow, Darlington, and Barton. Z. hirsuta was first recognized and 
described by Torrey’ as 2. hypertctfolia var. hirsuta, but for some reason 
since that time it has been entirely overlooked. 
The £. hypericifolia of Linnaeus is very indefinite. Linnaeus gives 
its habitat as India, which Willdenow further modifies to West India. 
Many of the American authors have considered the United States form 
as identical with the Linnaean plant. Boissier and others hold that the 
West Indian form is entirely distinct from the northern plant called by 
Boissier® £. Presiit Guss., but should go under the older name Z. nutans 
Lag. £. thymifolia was a name applied by Linnaeus to a probable 
Indian species, but later applied by Willdenow, Michaux, and Pursh to 
some one of the procumbent hairy species of the western states. 
According to the present rules of priority, the form in question 
must receive Torrey’s name and become &. Airsu¢a (Torrey). Our 
plant is found in most herbaria, named either &. Pres/i7, which it resem- 
bles in its fruit, or #. maculata and E. humistrata, which it resembles 
somewhat in general appearance. 
The writer is indebted to Mr. Coville and Dr. Small for the use of 
additional material, thus making it possible to draw up the following 
detailed account of the species. 
Euphorbia hirsuta (Torrey). 
E. maculata L. Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1762 (in part); Willd. Sp. Pl. 1799 (in part) ; 
Pursh Fl. Am. sept. 1814. 
E. hyperictifolia var. hirsuta Torr. Fl. North. and Middle States 331. 1826. 
*Sp. Pl. be I. 455. 1753. 4Fl. Amer. sept. 2: 605. 1814. 
2FI, N, Y. State 2: 176. 1843. 5 Fl. North. and Mid. Sait 331. 1826. 
3Sp. Pl, ed. 2. 896. 1799. €DC. Prod. 15: 23. 1865. 
