6 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED. 
Monographie du genre Onothera, par M. H. Leveille. Fase. 2, LeMans, 
France, 1905, 
M. Leville’s monograph, the second fascicle of which has just appeared, 
relates to a genus so abundantly represented in our region, and proposes 
such a radical change in the extension of its limits, and the disposition 
of its species, that it possesses an especial interest for California botan- 
ists. We trust, therefore, that it will not be without interest to note 
briefly the changes proposed in the present fascicle. Like the first, it is 
freely illustrated with photographs of herbarium specimens and an- 
atomical figures, and, in addition is enriched by very satisfactory draw- 
ings of several species. 
It will be noticed that the author prefers for reasons discussed in 
the first part the name Onothera to the more usual orthography. His 
views as to what are the limits of this genus are the very opposite of 
those proposed in 1835 by Spach, and more recently adopted and elab- 
orated by Raiman in the Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien. For while these 
authors break up the Linnean genus into no less than twelve genera, M. 
Leveille not only maintains it in its entirety, but reduces to it Bois- 
duvalia, Clarkia, Eulobus and Gayophytum. 
All the North American species of the last named genus, and several 
from Chili, are included in a single species, O. Gayophytum, Levl., whose 
geographical range extends from the State of Washington to the ex- 
tremity of South America. The North American species form the ‘‘race’’ 
Trelesiana, under which are the ‘‘forms’’ lasiosperma, eriosperma, ramos- 
issima and diffusa. Eulobus. californicus, Wats., becomes O. eulobus, 
Levl. Under O. brevipes, Gray, are placed Oe. scapoidea, Nutt. as a 
variety, and Oe. Parryi, Wats. as a ‘‘race’’ and of it Oe. heterochroma, 
Wats., is regarded as a synonym.  O. tortulosa, Levl., includes Oe. den- 
tata D. C. and Oe. strigulosa, D. C. The common large flowered plant 
long known under Watson’s herbarium name of Oe. dentata grandiflora, 
and recently published in Abram’s Flora of Los Angeles as Spherostigma 
campestris Parishii, is here called O. tortulosa race helianthemiflora, Levl., 
and under this Oe, dentata cruciata, Wats. appears as a form. Oe. 
micrantha, Hornem, is referred to O. hirta, Link, under which the variety 
Jonesii includes plants from Avalon and Paso Robles. Oe. bistorta, 
Nutt., and Oe. Veitchiana, Hook., are embraced in O. cheiranthifolia,. 
Hornem., the former as variety contorta, Dougl., and the latter as a form. 
The Oe. cheiranthifolia, and its var. suffrutescens, of the Botany of Cali- 
fornia, are referred to O. spiralis, Hook. Finally O. gaureflora, T. & G., 
includes Oe. Boothii, Dougl., as a ‘‘race’’ and Oe. allysoides, H. & A., as 
a synonym. 
To pass off-hand judgment on the conclusions reached by a student 
who has devoted much time and reflection to a subject is unjust; but we 
venture to doubt if most of our author’s dispositions will find acceptance 
among American botanists. Less hesitation may be felt in criticising 
his citation of authorities for races, varieties and forms. When not 
credited to himself, they are assigned to authors who are in no way re- 
sponsible for them. Thus we have O. Gayophytum form lasiospermum,, 
Greene. Now Greene is the author of a Gayophytum lasiospermum, but 
unquestionably would repudiate the other combination to which hig name 
is attached. The erroneous character of these citations would have ap- 
peared at once, had the place of publication been added to the author’s 
name, as it should be in works of importance. S. B. P. 
