16 The Botanical Gazette. [January, 
It is quite possible that there are other and yet older names, 
but at all events Sporobolus neglectus is an unnecessary addi- 
tion toa much-burdened synonymy.—F. LAMSON-SCRIBNER, | 
Washington, D. C. 
The validity of Mr. Nash’s changes. 
In a recent article on the subject of ‘‘New or Noteworthy. 
American Grasses,”? several new species are described and a 
number of new names applied to old ones. Evrianthus com- 
pactus is a form which has been known to botanists for sev- | 
enty years, being widely distributed through the eastern) 
manual range. It has been included in the manuals under £. 
saccharoides Michx., and E. alopecuroides Ell., and has been 
commonly known by these names, yet the author neglects to 
mention the fact and hence leads us to infer that it is an en- 
tirely new discovery. The change in the name is said to have 
been made because there is in the Herbarium of Columbia 
college a fragment of Gronovius’ number 133, 2 which has the | 
twisted awn, ‘‘aristis tortuosis” of the original description of 
Andropogon alopecuroides Linn. Munro,* who has examined - 
the grasses of the Linnaean Herbarium, says: ‘‘The numbers: 
in the Herbarium refer to those used in the first edition of 
the ‘Species Plantarum,’ Linnaeus’ own copy being very care- 
fully marked by himself. In the following list I have used 
these numbers, uaderlining them, as was done by Linnseti 
himself, thus 1, 2, etc., to imply that the plant was actually 
in the Herbarium. I have carefully examined every grass {0 
the Herbarium; and in annexing the following list of names 
which I consider they should bear, I trust the list may be of 
some little use to botanists who are unable to consult the Het 
barium itself.” 
unro gives |. c. §2, in his subjoined list, under Andropo- 
on: ‘4. A. alopecurotdes, from North America, is Erianthus 
saccharoides Mich.” MHackel* places the Linnaean species, 
excluding Sloane’s synonym, under E. saccharoides Mich. 
subspecies a, genuinus. He does not consider the twisting of 
the awn a character of specific value. The description 
Mr. .Nash’s new species does not differentiate his plant from 
oe nee 
1Bull. Torr. Bot. Club. 22: 419. 1895. 
*Linn, Sp. Pl. 1045. 1753. 
*Proc. Linn. Soc. Bot. 6: 33 ¢¢ sss 1861, 
