1898] NORTH AMERICAN CARYOPHYLLACEA 169 
Under Sabulina 
S. stricta, Reichenb. Fl. Germ, Excurs. 789 == Arenaria stricta. 
Under Spergula 
S. stricta, Sw. in Vet. Acad. Handl. Stockh. xx. (1799) 229 = 
Arenaria stricta. 
Now of these six clear references to this well-known Euro- 
pean plant all are incorrect. Four refer it to Avenaria stricta, 
but the only plant of that name cited by the Jndex Kewensis is 
the common and wholly distinct American species of Michaux’s 
Fi. Bor. Am. 1:274, while the other two references to the plant 
under discussion maintain for it the name Avenaria Lapponica 
Spreng. (1825), which is much antedated both in Arenaria, 
Alsine, and Spergula, and is accordingly supported by no code 
or usage whatever. As further incidents in this confusion may 
be mentioned the neglect of Lamarck & De Candolle’s early 
Publication of Avenaria uliginosa, and the omission of Watson's 
Arenaria stricta which, as its synonymy clearly shows, was 
employed in a sense wholly different from A. stricta of Michaux. 
In 1890 (Mem. Torr. Club 2:37) Dr. N. L. Britton exactly 
“Presses the position of the present writer, by his footnote, 
Way displace Michaux’ of 1803.” 
of caus Position, stated so positively by Dr. Britton in 1890, is 
Which ce, contrary to the unwise Madison rule of 1893, 
When the 5 : bao immutability of an older specific name even 
identical see is transferred to a genus already Contannns an 
Where nla cone of later date. As the writer has else- 
4 synonym Mi 1S provision, together with the dictum of “once 
ways a synonym,” would give a power to any 
ker of displacing forever many valid specific 
rule can certainly never attain general accept- 
pleasure to see from Dr. Britton’s note of 1890, 
thoughtlesg Wor 
ames. Such 4 
