1922] SEARS—TARAXACUM 309 
environment is sufficiently potent to have produced from a few 
valid species transient forms fitting many published descriptions 
given specific or varietal rank. Attempts to correlate degree of 
leaf dissection with internal anatomy have not succeeded, but 
senescence and dissection are accompanied by an increase in 
carbohydrates as compared with nitrogenous substance. 
Numerous colleagues, and in particular Professor JoHn H. 
SCHAFFNER of Ohio State University, have given generous help 
whenever called upon. It seems proper also to express appreciation 
of the difficulties confronting earlier workers whose conclusions, 
and in some cases whose observations, have not been confirmed here. 
IDENTITY OF SPECIES.—This plant, known as the ‘“red-seeded 
dandelion,” is without doubt cosmopolitan. It is listed as T. 
erythrospermum Andrz. by Gray (19), and as Leontodon erythro- 
spermum (Andrz.) Britton by Britton and Brown (3). SEARS 
(23), as well as Suerrr (25), for reasons that will appear later, 
has accepted the decision of HANDEL-MazeErti (6) with respect to 
nomenclature. 
Britton employs the generic name of Leoniodon upon the 
authority of Linnaeus’ Sp. Pl. 798 (14). Hanpet-Mazerti in 
his monograph presents the tabulation and critique of authorities 
upon which he bases his selection of the name Taraxacum. It is 
convincing. Incidentally he makes clear why Leontodon Taraxacum 
L. cannot stand as a valid species name because of incomplete 
diagnosis. 
The species with which we are concerned here is discussed by 
the same authority as follows: 
Was den Namen anbelangt der bereits auf die diversisten Pflanzen ange- 
wendet wurde, so konnte ich mich an dem — fruchtenden Originalexemplar 
Willdenows von seiner Bedeutung iiberzeugen. ... . Leontodon laevigatus 
Willdenow, 1800; Taraxacum a De Paudete 1813; T. erythrospermum 
Besser, 1822. 
The last citation (quoted from the tabulation of synonyms on p. 109) 
is doubtless the one upon which Gray and Brirron base their 
specific nomenclature. Brirron’s citation for the species is 
ANDRZEJOWSKY in Bess. Enum. Pl. Vilh. 75. 1821. For further 
critical discussion the careful paper by SHEREF (25) may be cited. 
