32 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JULY 
regarding it. Recently, however, there has come to hand (in 
Herb. Field Mus.) a specimen (C. R. Orcutt 2886, Vera Cruz, 
Mexico) which agrees most minutely and strikingly with Hermann’s 
plate which Linnakvs cited; also another (idem 2991, Sanborn, 
Vera Cruz, Mexico) agreeing satisfactorily but having proliferous 
heads. Coming from the same locality in Mexico are other 
specimens which show transitions to a more elongate type of 
plant with some 5-parted leaves. One of these (Mueller 148, in 
Herb. N.Y. Bot. Gard.) is labeled Bidens dondiaefolia Less., a 
species likewise from Vera Cruz and the description of which it 
fits very well (I have not yet seen LEssiNc’s type). It is note- 
worthy that Lessinc called attention to the sterile shoots of this 
species; ‘‘rami plures steriles.” 
From these facts it is evident that B. dondiaefolia Less. is a 
synonym for B. alba (L.) DC., and that B. alba is a local species 
native mainly to the state of Vera Cruz, Mexico. It possibly 
does not occur in St. Croix, as stated by Hermann (loc. cit.). 
Dr. C. F. Mirispaucs, himself an authority upon the flora of 
St. Croix, suggests to me, and very plausibly so, that in the prepa- 
ration of HERMANN’s posthumous work, the name ‘Sancta Crux”’ 
perhaps became substituted for “Vera Crux,” and that thes the 
locality “‘Insula St. Crucis” finally was published. __ 
As to the worthiness of Bidens leucantha (L.) Willd. to rank 
separately from B. alba, future field observations and breeding 
tests are highly desirable. It seems much the safer course to 
retain the two names separately for the present rather than merge 
them as done by O. E. Scsutz (loc. cit.). 
The plant collected by Ghiesbreghit (no. 551) and referred be 
Gray (Proc. Amer. Acad. 19: 16. 1883) to B. dondiaefolia is a 
very | different plant and is typical B. chiapensis Brandeg. The 
oo specimens of B. alba so far determined’ © 
a we myself a at the Field ‘Museum and the New York Botanical — 
_ Garden (certa oo 
