1914] | BRIEFER ARTICLES 329 
_ may be easy to select the type from several species by some statement 
of the author or because one species was figured. There are cases in 
which a careful weighing of evidence is necessary to determine the species 
which the author had chiefly in mind when establishing the genus, that 
is, the type species. On account of the bearing it may have on the selec- 
tion of type species, I give here, somewhat fully, the evidence which 
leads me to select Avena spicata L. instead of Festuca decumbens L. as the 
type species of Danthonia DC. 
DECANDOLLE? establishes the genus Danthonia in a local flora and 
hence describes only the two species growing in France. These are 
(1) D. decumbens, based upon Festuca decumbens, and (2) D. provincialis, 
a change of name for Avena calycina Vill. In a note at the end of the 
generic description, and preceding the descriptions of the species, is the 
following: “On doit, outre les espéces décrites plus bas, rapporter 4 ce 
genre, r°. avena spicata L. ou avena glumosa Michaux; 2°. avena calicina 
Lam. non Vill.” It is evident from this note that the author included 
these two species in his idea of the genus Danthonia. The only reason 
for selecting D. decumbens for the type of the genus is that it is the first 
of the two species described. There are more and better reasons for 
selecting Avena spicata as the type. It is the first species mentioned 
and it represents better than D. decumbens the generic idea. In regard 
to the last point, it is to be noted that the generic description states that 
the lemma (“valve externe”’) is provided with an awn, sometimes long 
and twisted, sometimes rudimentary (4 demi-avortée). DECANDOLLE 
differentiates Danthonia from Melica by the presence of the awn, and 
from Avena by the position of the awn, and by some other characters. 
It is evident that the author considered the awn to be one of the impor- 
tant distinguishing characters of his new genus. Three of the four 
species mentioned by DECANDOLLE are congeneric and possess a well 
marked awn. In the other species, D. decumbens, the awn is rudimen- . 
tary (“les valves externes des balles ont au sommet une echancrure d’ou 
part un rudiment d’aréte ’) and hence this species, inasmuch as it departs 
from the general idea of the genus, should be excluded from consideration 
In the selection of the type. For the reasons given I favor selecting 
Danthonia spicata (L.) DC. as the type species of Danthonia, thus retain- 
ing is generic name for our American species. Festuca decumbens L. 
'S Senerally recognized as generically distinct and has been made the 
type of Sieglingia. Some botanists are inclined to select the type from 
among those species that from the standpoint of the author of the work 
*In Lam. and DC. Fi. Frang. 3:52. 1805. 
