ON SOME QUESTIONS OF BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE. 359 
writer proposes to transfer a plant from one genus to another he is 
bound to retain the previous specific designation, unless upon manifest 
grounds this should appear unfitting or erroneous. The only common 
case where it is legitimate to give a new specific name is where the old 
designation is already employed for a species in the genus to which a 
plant is transferred. The other cases should, I conceive, be limited 
is absolutely and entirely wanting. But to hold that because a 
specific name is occasionzlly inaccurate or inappropriate it is lawful 
to change it, would simply open the door to endless confusion, and 
remove all prospect of ever attaining a stable system of nomen- 
tu 
i guinea. It was n li 
under the name Spergularia patens of Hochstetter in Schimper’s pub- 
: . a 4 
it in this instance because, although the flowers are gen y diandrous, 
the ve sometimes three and rarel stamens. But someon 
else may point out , although in so es i 
specially affects stations where the contains soluble salts, there 
ay 
are others where it exhibits no such preference, and on ground 
reject the name salsuginea as incorrect. 1 have omitted some further 
reds 
door to further mischief in the future. : : 
- There is a further point as to which I likewise differ from M. 
