17 



"Das Pflanzenreich" (no. 1 10. 1908) ! In the opinion of the pres- 

 ent writer a monograph of any genus or family of plants Bhould 

 dispose of all names ever proposed within thai group, whether 

 these names were validly published or not. Hyponyms, nomina 

 nuda, and cheironyms (herbarium names) are continuously en- 

 countered by systematists ill their daily work, and while none 

 of these names have any botanical standing, yet there is never 

 one of them encountered without a question arising in the mind 

 of the systematist who has found it, as to just what the correct 

 name is for the plant to which this untenable name was applied. 

 It should be one of the purposes of a scientific monograph to 

 bring all such names together, as well as all validly published 

 names now relegated to synonymy, and to dispose of each one 

 under its appropriate species. When a systematist refers to a 

 recently published scientific monograph of a genus or family he 

 has the right to expect to find therein all names ever proposed 

 in that group up to the date of publication of the monograph. 

 It is to be hoped that the next treatment of the Sarraceniaceae 

 for "Das Pflanzenreich" will be more complete in this respect, 

 and therefore more useful than the last edition. 



Another most remarkable fact in this connection is that in 

 all three editions of Holman & Robbins' textbook the illus- 

 tration of the so-called Sarracenia laciniata is lettered "B," 

 while in each case the legend beneath the figure refers the name 

 Sarracenia laciniata to "C." This brings about a most deplorable 

 confusion, because figure "C" represents the California pitcher- 

 plant (Chrysamphora calif ornica) , there incorrectly called Darl- 

 ingtonia calif ornica and referred to "B." One would suppose that 

 at least one of the many users of these texts would have no- 

 ticed this error and would have taken the trouble to write to 

 the authors concerning it, so that it could be rectified in the 

 next edition. Likewise in all three editions the name Sarracenia 

 variolaris is used for figure "A," when it has long ago been 

 shown that this name is not tenable and all contemporary work- 

 ers use the older name, 5. minor. It would be a good plan, in- 

 deed, in the opinion of the present writer, if the authors of text- 

 books which are not works on taxonomy, would submit their 

 manuscript to a taxonomist before publication, so that he could 

 bring their scientific names up to date! 



Finally, for the benefit of those interested in pitcherplants, 



