1917] SHERFF—BIDENS 31 
Druce (Fl. Berks. 283. 1897) has treated the dwarf form of 
this species as “forma minima.” But it should be noted that 
Drutce is not the first author to adopt this status, Larsson (FI. 
Werml. 221. 1859) having used it long before. Similarly, the 
dwarf form of B. cernua L., named “forma minima”? by Druce 
(Herb. Dillen. 67. 1907), evidently under the impression that 
such treatment was new, was already described, years before, as 
B. cernua {. minima (Larss., loc. cit., 220). 
BIDENS CERNUA L. Sp. Plant. 832. 1753; Bidens Kelloggii 
Greene, Pittonia 4: 267. 1901. 
A careful study of the type and other cited specimens of Bidens 
Kelloggit (in U.S. Nat. Herb.) shows them to be incapable of 
separation from B. cernua. GREENE classed these forms among 
the segregates from B. laevis (L.) B.S.P., but most a 
so, for, at the same time, he even stated that ‘‘Dr. Torrey . ‘ 
more correctly referred them to B. cernua.” 
It may be remarked in passing that, in the future, es : 
new species allied with Bidens cernua should be described only 
after taking the utmost care to see that they are not mere atypic 
forms of that species. It would be interesting | to subject B. cernua 
to elaborate breeding experiments. A beginning in this direction 
has been made already by Guppy (Studies in bent and Fruits 
480. 1912). 
BmweNs ALBA DC. Prodr. 5: oe 1836.—Coreopsis alba L 
Sp. Plant. 908. 1753; Chrysanthemum americanum, ciceris folio 
.... Herm. Par. 124. pl. 124. 1698; Bidens pilosa L. var. 
Antill. 7: 136. 1o11; Bidens dondiaefolia Less. fe descript et 
loci a Linnaea 5: 155. 1830. : 
This peculiar plant was treated by DeCaxpocie as one of the 
“species non satis notae.” I Ss n ( 
natis cuneatis serratis”) and ¢ citation’ of ‘habitat (“Insula St. 
 Cmeis”) e work of HERMANN, the 
a Deas Batavus. Reference to this work (loc. cit.) shows a. 
