530 Davis: Lamarck's evening primrose 



of De Vries's cultures is left without a name or at least without 

 the authority of Seringe. I propose, however, that the name 

 ' ' Oenothera Lamarckiana De Vries " be kept for this plant, which has 

 been the subject of such extensive experimental study by De Vries 

 and whose origin and behavior is a matter of such great interest 

 to the geneticist. . 



The name when written " Oenothera Lamarckiana De Vries " is 

 clear to all who have knowledge of the relation that this plant 

 bears to the mutation theory. If there were evidence that " 0. 

 Lamarckiana De Vries " is or ever was a component of the American 

 flora as a native species, there might be some reason to change its 

 name. However, the evidence indicates that Lamarckiana has 

 come to us greatly modified, that its parentage is far from pure, 

 that it is in fact of hybrid origin. We are dealing with the product 

 of the garden, and as such the plant may reasonably be exempt 

 from a change of name that would carry endless confusion through 

 the literature of experimental morphology. Should any taxono- 

 mist contemplate the introduction of a new name let him first 

 ponder the inscription over the grave of William Shakespeare. 



The introduction of Oenothera grandifiora Solander into England 

 in 1778 marked a very important date in the development of the 

 Oenothera flora over parts of Europe. This species undoubtedly 

 holds the key to many puzzling herbarium sheets and records. 

 Botanists do not yet realize how definite is our knowledge of this 

 native American species and how clear is our information on its 

 history. (See MacDougal, 1905, p. 7.) 



Oenothera grandifiora Solander was discovered by William 

 Bartram in 1776 near Tensaw, Alabama, on an expedition under- 

 taken at the request of John Fothergill, M.D. Solander's original 

 description in Alton's Hortus Kewensis, 1789, from material grown 

 at Kew, states that 0. grandifiora was introduced by John Fother- 

 gill in 1778. A herbarium specimen in the British Museum from 

 " Hort. Fothergill 1778 " makes it evident that Bartram must have 

 sent seed to Fothergill. The species still occupies its original 

 station in Alabama, where it was rediscovered in 1904, and there 

 is abundant herbarium material from this source; also, there are. 

 strains under cultivation by myself and others. As striking an 

 American novelty as this large-flowered species would naturally be- 



