170 



Adjustment of Botanical Descriptions. 



It is sometimes necessary to amend a description, and sometimes to adopt and 

 regularise what has hitherto been a nomen nudum. Following are a few references : — 



(1) E. diversifolia Bonpl., including E. santalifolia F.v.M., Part VIII, p. 198. See 



also a discussion of the matter under E. pachyloma Benth., in Part XXXIII, 

 pp. 84-88. 



(2) E. hemiphloia F.v.M. See Part XI, p. 14, for a case of the adoption of a 



nomen nudum by Bentham. 



(3) E. goniocalyx F.v.M., and E. elwophora F.v.M. In Part XIX, pp. 267, 268, 



will be seen an account of the confusion which has arisen through the confusion 

 by Mueller of two of his own species, and the compromise I propose in the 

 interests of a stable nomenclature. 



(4) E. gigantea Hook. f. See Part XX, p. 291, for the rectification of a description, 



this species and E. obliqua L'Herit., having become confused. 



(5) E. Stuartiana F.v.M. There are no less than three distinct species described 



by Mueller under this name, and what I have termed the " Stuartiana 

 confusion " is explained and rectified at Part XXI, p. 4, Part XXIV, p. 68, 

 and Part LXX, p. 467. Mr. Baker attempts to rectify the confusion by 

 adding E. Bridgesiana Baker to an over-burdened synonymy; this produces 

 taxonomic surfeit. 



(6) E. resinifera Sm. See Part XXX, p. 208. This is a classical case of the 



rehabilitation by Bentham of an unsatisfactory species, which dated from the 

 early days of New South Wales. Bentham's compromise has been accepted 

 on all sides. 



The question of the adjustment of a species is also referred to by Bentham under 

 Endiandra hypotephra F.v.M., in B.FL, v., 301. There are other instances, but perhaps 

 the above are sufficiently representative. 



Arising to some extent out of the above, we have the quotation of herbarium 

 names not hitherto published, e.g., Hooker in " Flora of New Zealand," p. 18, under 

 Melicytus ramiflorus Forst., quotes Tachites umbellulifera, Banks et Sol. MSS. 

 Britten, who has done work to secure stability of nomenclature which can never be 

 forgotten, sometimes follows a similar course in the Journal of Botany when it seems 

 justifiable. 



