424 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [ DECEMBER 
-also imported several horticultural varieties of this group from 
France under the names Reine Claude, Reine Claude de Bavay, 
etc., so that we have both names still in common use. Poiteau, 
a most excellent student of pomology, remarks ° that the Reine 
Claude is reproduced more or less true from seed, and the same 
statement is made elsewhere. The fact is still evident in the 
large number of seedling varieties in this country closely resem- 
_ bling the Reine Claude. All this justifies very well the work of 
Linneus and Seringe, while holding to their notions of species 
and varieties, in making a separate variety of this group. We 
have dozens of modern representatives of this type. One 
catalogue which I consulted gave approximately 50 separate 
varieties, and 149 synonyms. 
PRuNUS DOMEsTICA MyropaLana.— This is identical with Ehr- 
hart’s Prunus cerasifera, which is given as a distinct species in the 
revised Field, Forest and Garden Botany, and which will probably 
be generally accepted in this country. Linnzeus’ var. acinaria 
seems to belong here also, but this point cannot be determined 
with certainty. 
Prunus DoMESTICA DaMAsceNA.— The Damsons. This group 
is so distinct that it has often been given specific rank. If there 
were anything to be gained by it there is no reason why it should 
not be revived as a separate botanical variety at the present 
time. The Damsons as a class, come fairly true to seed, preserv- 
ing their group characters quite well enough for ordinary pur 
poses of classification. Var. hungarica of Linnzus is doubtless 
to be included in Seringe’s var. Damascena. , Var. augustana Linn., 
ought perhaps to fall into the same group, though it is very diffi- 
cult to see just what Bauhin had in view in Prunus Augusto 
maturescentia minora et austeora. The name in the second edi- 
tion of Species Plantarum was changed to angustana, but the deri- 
vation from Bauhin makes it clear that the earlier spelling is the 
one to be retained. Linnzus’ variety praecor has been referred 
to this group still more doubtfully. It falls here by exclusion 
from the other groups, rather than by any positive characters of 
® Pomologie Francaise (no page). 1846. 
