115 



trinomial system of nomenclature so general among zoologists 

 and becoming, alas, more and more prevalent among botanists, 

 wherein the species is considered to be sum of all its varieties 

 and forms and the specific name is repeated or a "var. typica" is 

 added to every species in which varieties or forms have been 

 segregated, — a decided step back toward the polynomial no- 

 menclature from which Linnaeus' binomial system attempted to 

 save us. Thus, Dr. Fassett has a map iov Amorpha canescens and 

 also one for A. canescens f. glabrata, and one for Tephrosia vir- 

 giniana and one for T. virginiana var. holosericea. 



A statement on page 36 is worthy of emphasis. The author 

 notes there that he is unable to present maps for the various 

 species of Trifolium, Melilotus, and Medicago because these 

 genera, being in large part roadside weeds escaping from culti- 

 vation, have been less systematically collected and are therefore 

 more poorly represented in herbaria than are native members 

 of the family. This illustrates well one of the unfortunate results 

 which obtain when collectors insist on collecting only the scarce 

 or native plants and do not condescend to collect introductions 

 and weeds. Because of this practice and the equally general 

 practice of herbaria to refuse to retain specimens of common 

 plants or weeds which are sent in, we actually know far less 

 about the introduction, spread, and distribution of weeds and 

 common plants than w^e do of the scarce or rare native ones. To 

 keep the picture balanced collectors should collect all the plants 

 of a region in which they are working and herbaria should retain 

 all plants, whether rare or common, native or introduced, wild 

 or cultivated, w^hich are sent in. 



Several changes in nomenclature brought out in this work 

 wdll be of interest to students in the Torrey Botanical Club 

 area. The plant which we have been so generally calling Des- 

 modium grandiflorum or Meihomia grandiflora should be known 

 as D. acuminatum (Michx.) DC. The plant we have been calling 

 Lathyrus maritimus should be L. japonicus var. pellitus Fernald 

 and var. glaber (Seringe) Fernald. The plant we have been call- 

 ing Apios tuherosa or A. apios is actually A. americana Med., 

 while our hog-peanut, known hitherto as Amphicarpa monoica 

 or Falcata comosa, should, under the present International Rules 

 of Nomenclature, be known as A. hracteata (L.) Fernald. 



Interesting varieties and forms of plants common in our 



