116 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



latum. a The habitat of Panicum dissectum is given by Linnaeus as "in Indus." We 

 obtain more light by noting how Linnaeus disposed of the species in subsequent works. 

 The next reference is in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae *> where the genus 

 Paspalum is established. The first species is dimidiatum, "P. spicis subsolitariis, 

 pedunculo communo membranaceo. Panicum dissectum, Sp. PI. 57. n. 6." Although 

 he bases the new name upon Panicum dissectum, he changes the specific name to 

 dimidiatum. As his species of Panicum No. 7 in the first edition was called P. dimi- 

 diatum , and there is no doubt that this is what we now call Stenotaphrum dimidiatum, 

 Linnaeus apparently became confused, or inadvertently transferred the wrong name. 

 The real Panicum dimidiatum is omitted in the tenth edition of the Systema. but 

 reappears in the second edition of the Species Plantarum. That Linnaeus made a 

 slip of the pen in his citation of 1759 is shown by the fact that in the second edition of 

 his Species Plantarum^ he restores the name dissectum and we have Paspalum. dissectum 

 based on Panicum dissectum of the first edition. Plukenet's figure is still cited, but 

 the other synonyms are omitted. Sloane's plant was taken out and given the name 

 Paspalum virgatum L.d and the same disposition was made of it in the second edition 

 of the Species Plantarum. In the latter work Linnaeus changes the habitat of Pas- 

 palum dissectum to "America calidiore," and adds a further description which cer- 

 tainly applies to the specimen from Kalm rather than to any of the others under 

 consideration, "Gramen prostratum foliosum vaginis fere spathaceis. Spicae paucac 

 radii membranacea dilatata ad latitudinem spicae ipsius distichae & secundae. Flores 

 orbiculati." 



From the above it seems clear that Linnaeus had Kalm's plant before him when he 

 wrote lus description of 175:', but that he erred in his synonyms. We must not place 

 too much weight upon the localities, Indies and America calidiore, for at that time 

 there was little knowledge concerning the distribution of American plants. Paspalum 

 scrobiculatum L.<" from "India orientali" has been considered by some a synonym 

 of /'. dissectum (as Hooker in Fl. Br. Ind. 7: 11. 1896), but I am unable to find any 

 evidence to support this disposition. 



It seems proper that we should regard Kalm's specimen in Linnaeus's herbarium 

 as the type of Panicum dissectum L. and that this name should be taken up for the plant 

 we have been calling Paspalum membranaceuin Walt., which becomes Paspalum, 

 dissectum (L.) L. 



Paspalum virgatum L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 855. 1759. 

 ^The specimen is from "Br" and is the same as the Sloane plant referred to unde 

 the preceding species. The plant from Browne is the type, for, although Linnaeus 

 cites Sloane's plate 69, figure 2 under this species, /he does not quote Sloane's diagnosis 

 but gives one of Ins own. 



Paspalum paniculatum L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 855. 1759. 



The plant is what has been going under that name in the floras of tropical America. 

 Linnaeus here cites Sloane's plate, but uses his own diagnosis, which is quite different 

 from that of Sloane. His description "P. paniculae spicis inferioribus subgenerifi 

 basi villosis," certainly applies to his own plant received from Browne rather than 

 to the Sloane plant or plate. I can not agree with Mr. Nash, who makes Sloane's 

 plant (which is Panicum fasciculatum Sw.) the type of this species, and hence calls 

 it Panicum 'paniculatum (L.) Nash.? This combination could not be used in any case 

 on account of Panicum paniculatmn (L.) Kuntze, ft which is based on Paspalum pani- 

 culatum L., without regard to its identity. 



«Sp. PI. ed. 2. 1483. 1762. e Mant. 1: 29. 1767. 



6 2: 855. 1759. /hoc. cit.; also Sp. PI. ed. 2. 81. 1762. 



c81. 1762. g Bull. Torr. Club 30: 381. 1903. 



d Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 1: 855. 1759. h R ev . Gen. 3: 363. 1898. 



