222 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MARCH 
The genus Agaricus affords another interesting example — 
established by Tournefort,5 who referred to it chiefly species of ‘ 
Polyporus in the sense of Saccardo, and figured as representing his 
idea of the genus, Polyporus fomentarius (L.) Fr. It was later — 
taken up by Dillenius® and also Linnzus,? who referred to it _ 
chiefly lamellate forms. Since, the genus has been divided and — 
subdivided until the name has become entirely displaced or rele- 
gated to a few imperfectly described species which could not be 
definitely referred. Karsten, Patouillard, and Saccardo® have 
applied the name to a group of species, including the common 
mushroom, Agaricus campestris L. But why should it be retained 
for this group rather than for any of the dozen or more groups 
to which it had equal claim? If any reason were pai 
would probably be that this was the best known group, contall 
ing the esis which has long been grown and. collected 
food. a 
The history of the genus Sphaeria Haller? is also were 
___ sting, and shows how names are entirely displaced, or releg 
: - to groups of insufficiently described species or ee 
odds and ends of old authors. 
Lest it should be inferred that such /aisser faire pre 
are characteristic of the older authors only, we may © 
___ tion to one or two modern instances. Take the genus /@% 
- a Ces. & De Not., for example, Four species were posit! 
. 2. 28 referred to the genus and five others doubtfully by these a 
ay : Later De Notaris** described and referred to the 8° 
SToURNEFORT, Ins. Rei Herb. 1: 562. Pi 330. 1700. 
_ *DILLEeNtus, Nov. Gen. 75. 1719. 
_7LInNaus, Gen. Pl. 327. 1737.—Sp. Pl. 2: 1171. 1753. 
-*Saccarno, Syll. Fung. 53993. 1887. 
- SHaer, Hist. Stirp. Helv. 3: 120. 1768. a 
oo PCa and De Noraris, Schem. Sfer. Ital. Asc. in Comm. . 
ae nee 205. 1863. 
7 De Notaass, G., Sfer. Ital. 57. 1863. This was published 
_ the last publication cit ed. The preface to fasc. 2, in which the ab\ 
is dated December 1863, while the Schem. Sfer. Ital. is referred to im 
oe eps t which is dated March 1863, indicating that it — ee 
