COMMELYNA VIRGINICA.—COMMON DAY-FLOWER. 119 
leaves seems to be referred to the same species. Three of the 
anthers are comparatively abortive and cross-shaped,—and a 
fourth one is partially so modified, or in process of metamorphosis 
to that state ;”’ but it is now conceded that the species is variable, 
and that C. angustifolia of Michaux is the same as C. Virginica 
of Linnzus. Elliott, an early botanist, named another form C 
erecta, and this is also referred to our present species,—the C. 
erecta of Linnzeus being another and distinct one. What with 
variations and synonyms, the student may have some trouble in 
identifying his collections. It is only in quite recent times that 
botanists themselves seem to have agreed on the identities of 
these variations,—and if the student is not one inclined to believe 
that facts accurately told are just as well at least as those 
inaccurately given, and is satisfied to be “not wise beyond what 
is written,” he will have some trouble in reconciling some of the 
statements connected with its family history. Dr. Gray, in his 
“Manual,” gives Dillenius as the author of the name Commelyna, 
“dedicated to the early Dutch botanists, J. and G. Commelyn,’— 
but in his “School Botany” he tells us that Linnzeus named the 
genus for more than two of them. “There were three Com- 
melyns, Dutch botanists; two of them were authors, the other 
published nothing. In naming this genus for them, Linnzus is 
understood to have designated the two former by the full- 
developed petals, the latter by the smaller or abortive petal.” 
Linnzeus, however, in his Genera Plantarum, credits Plumier with 
the authorship of the name, who published a work on American 
plants in 1703, while Dillenius, who was Professor of Botany 
in the University of Oxford, issued his “ Hortus Elthamensis” 
in 1732,—and Milne, in his “Dictionary” of 1770, states 
that “Plumier named this genus Commelina, from John Com- 
melin, a Dutchman, Professor of Botany at Amsterdam, and 
author of two botanical works, entitled, Hesperides Belgie and 
flortus Amstelodamensis.” All the old botanists gave the ortho- 
graphy as Commelina, modern botanists always use Commelyna. 
Dr. Gray adopts the latter in his “ Manual ;” but in his “ School 
