169 



barda L. Necker must, therefore, refer to this edition or the 

 third, which is practically identical, or else to some edition of the 

 Systema, perhaps the 12th or the 13th. In either case the prob- 

 lem becomes much more complicated, because in all of these 

 there are not less than four species of Rulnis with simple leaves. 

 In the second edition of Species Plantarum, Rulnis inohiccamis 

 (which is not a Rjtbacei-) is the first mentioned of these. Should 

 not this according to Dr. Greene's own interpretation * be the 

 type of Bossekia ? The zoologists often take as the type the 

 European species best known at the time. In this case it would 

 be R. Chainacmonis, which was certainly intended by Necker as a 

 part, at least, of his Bossekia. As far as the facts now are 

 known, no rule, as far as I can see, will make Ridms odoratus 

 the type. 



According to the "American Code," Bossekia is not properly 

 published, for no type is specified, nor is it identifiable with any 

 definite published species. President Jordan probably expressed 

 the opinion of the majority of the American zoologists, when he 

 made the following statement : " A generic name should have no 

 standing if resting on definition alone, nor until associated with 

 some definite species." The majority of the botanists of this 

 country evidently hold the same opinion. 



Under the circumstances, I can not accept Bossekia in place of 



Riibacer, until Dr. Greene or someone else proves definitely that 



Riibiis odoratus was the actual type of Necker's genus Bossekia. 



New York Botanical Garden, 

 June, 1906. 



TEREBINTHUS MACDOUGALI, A NEW SHRUB 

 FROM LOWER CALIFORNIAf 



By J. N. Rose 



The name Biirsera L. (1762) is not only a homonyn oi Bur- 

 sera Loef. (1758), but is a true synonym of both Elaphrium 

 Jacq. (1760) and of TerebintJius P. Browne (1756). The latter as 

 the earliest published name is here taken up. 



* See Pittonia 4 : 104. Ja I900. 



I Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



