1902] GENERIC NOMENCLATURE 221 
followed his favorite author or his individual preference or con- 
ception, which is not always based upon any serious consider- 
ation of the consequences, and leads naturally to little uniformity. 
An abundance of instances verifying this statement might be 
sited, but we shall take space to refer to only a few.. Let us 
- glance first at one or two of the older genera. Take for example 
the genus Lycoperdon. So far as we know, the name was first 
used by Tournefort,' who gave brief descriptions of twenty-eight 
_ Species, including a considerable variety of Gasteromycetes. 
His plate illustrating the genus represents four species, two of 
which belong to the present genus as interpreted by DeToni.’ 
The two others belong to distinct genera. It would require too 
_— Space to trace the entire history of the genus as interpreted 
by different authors down to the present time. Michelius3 and 
Tost other authors until Linnzeus used the name in much the 
— Sense as Tournefort. Linnzus,t in Genera Plantarum, 
Sane enlarged the scope of the genus, and included many 
Ce Previously separated by other authors. Interpreting his 
ie of the genus by the spécies referred to it in Species Planta- 
we NAVE & very heterogeneous collection. Of the nine 
‘*Pecies described by him, but one is found in the genus as inter- 
ae in Saccardo,? and even that one is not included by some 
‘Scent authors, Myxomycetes, Ascomycetes, and Uredinez are : 
nted among Linnzus’ species. Postlinnaean authors vary 
. eae — conceptions of Tournefort and Michelius, as : . 
_ the greates ustrations of species, have apparently exercised 
— oo of the genus. The present application of © 7 
Sete of least resistance, which has lately been desig- 
be ‘interpretation of the genus, andalsoastowhomitshould = 
est influence, and have led to the present more or less 
e 
's the natural outcome of following what might be 
S ; idue method,” but was at first really no conscious — 
Se Rei Herb. 12563. pl. 337. 1700. ee 
erendo Syil. Fung. 7:106. 1888. ee 
oat Pl. Gen. 217. 1729. _ *Linnaus, Gen. PI. 328. 13. 
