Trillium cernuum. 18 



transferred by botanists to another plant, the one here figured, leav- 

 ing consequently much doubt and confusion relative to the true 

 plant designated by Linnaeus by that name. This transfer of the 

 name, which must have been unintentionally made, and owing to 

 the similitude of several species of this genus, has induced Mr. Elliot 

 to give the name Catesbsei to it. Mr. Nuttall has called the same 

 plant T. stylosum, from its being the only species having a single 

 style. It appears from Mr. Elliot's remarks that the T. cernuum of 

 Walter is different from either the present cernuum or the species 

 of former botanists. He has assigned to it the specific name of nervo- 

 sum. Dr. Smith has criticised the figure of Catcsby, who describes 

 the plant as growing in Pendleton at the head waters of the Saluda 

 and Savannah rivers, stating it to be incorrect, and Pursh assuming 

 him as authority, declares the figure cannot be quoted without creat- 

 ing confusion. While Mr. Elliot, on the spot, declares, that he had, 

 at the time of making his observations, " specimens before him 

 agreeing minutely with the figure of Catesby, which were collected 

 precisely in the same spot where that naturalist describes his plant 

 as growing. Yet it is not a little remarkable that Dr. Smith should 

 be able to see the identity of Catesby's plant, by the specimens in the 

 Catesbyian Herbarium, with the cernuum, (the plant here figured,) 

 though he declares the figure erroneous. 



The genus to which this plant belongs contains eleven or twelve 

 species peculiar to the United States, and one, the T. obovatuim 

 common to this country and Kamschatka. according to Pallas. 



