December 31, 1906 237 



The specimens do not altogether fit the description in the vSyn- 

 optical Flora, but are nearer this species than any other. 



CoiiaiitliuH Wats. Bot. King Rep. 256. 1871 

 Thirteen years ago, in Cont. U. S. Nat. Herb. 4: 161-162, 

 Ml Coville called attention to the fact that this genus and our 

 western plants formerly called Nama are not sufficiently distinct 

 to be kept apart, the weak character of united or separate styles 

 failing in one species, but strangely referred the type of Conan- 

 thus to Kuntze's Marilaunidiiim. Most botanists in this coun- 

 try have persisted in using Kuntze's name, but apparently with- 

 out giving due study to the plants. A careful examination of 

 flowers from all the species will no doubt show that more of 

 them have united styles, and even if it does not, the character is 

 not strong enough to separate plants so like in habit and aspect. 

 But I am of the opinion that a little careful work will demon- 

 strate the fact that if the name Marilaunidmm is to be used at 

 all, it must be restricted to the plant of the southeastern United 

 States and the West Indies, the original Nama jamaicense L. 



CoNANTHUS PUSILLUS Leuimou, in Heller, Cat. 6. 1898. 



Nama pusillum Lemmon, in Gray, Proc. Am. Acad. 20: 

 304. 1885. 



No. 8325,' collected May 23, in a small dry peat bog in the 

 Sierra foothills west of Bishop, Inyo county. A homely little 

 plant, the type collected in the Mojave desert near the Calico 

 mine, San Bernardino county. 

 CoNANTHUS DKMissus (Gray) Heller, Cat. 6. 1898. 



Nama demissum Gray, Proc. Am. Acad. 8: 283. 1870. 



Ma7'ilau7!idiu7n demissum Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. '3: 434. 

 1891. 



No. 8280, collected May 18, in the foothills west of Bishop, 

 Inyo county, plentiful in coarse granite sand. This may not be 

 the typical plant, but our specimens are the same as others bear- 

 ing this name. All of the flowers examined have two distinct 

 styles. The type was collected in "dry or desert regions of Ne- 

 vada." 



