26 



ing long acuminate bracts, approach too near to P. decumbens, 

 which is further distinguished chiefly by its broader leaflets." 



Here at last we have specific mention of a " var. pubescens''' 

 of " Petalosternon violaceitm,^'' but not in the place first cited by 

 Watson, and even Gray himself refers it back to ^'■Gray^ PL 

 FendL p. t^t^^^'' where it does not occur. Here, in the Plantae 

 Wrightianae, we also actually have publication, for the name is 

 designated as equivalent to "P. virgatum, Scheele i7i Linnaea 

 21. p. 461." 



But did Asa Gray and Sereno Watson recognize the true 

 application of the name — a substitute for P. virgatum Scheele, 

 an excellent species, but the name a homonym — or did they 

 mean to apply it to the plants collected by Lindheimer, Fend- 

 ler, Wright, Burke, and Gordon? 



