434 



should obey the ruling of this Congress until it is constitutionally altered. A form 

 described as a variety sometimes proves, on further examination, to be worthy of 

 specific rank, and it has sometimes been practically convenient to so keep it in suspense 

 As to whether a certain plant is deemed to be a species or a variety is not of the greatest 

 mportance. Those who look upon it as a distinct entity have it in common that they 

 are agreed that it is distinct, and this is really important ; those who look upon one as 

 a variety of another go further, and indicate affinity ; this may be a valuable opinion. 



3. Inequality of Species Values. 



In this connection it may be well to be reminded of the pronouncement of the 

 immortal Hooker (Introd. Flora of Tas., xxx, 1859) : — 



" I need hardly remark that the very different opinions entertained by botanists as to what amount 

 and constancy of difference between many forms of plants should constitute a species, renders all such 

 comparisons vague, and I may add that no two or more botanists can ascertain the comparative value 

 of their opinions except they have exactly the same materials to work with. It is too often forgotten that 

 J n the sciences of observation what are called negative facts and evidence are worthless as compared with 

 positive." 



Dr. B. L. Robinson expresses a similar view in different language : — 



" It is easy to see that species as now recorded in literature are by no means alike, and that they 

 cannot be regarded as equivalents in any complete or logical system of classification. Curiously enough 

 the term ' species ' seems to be growing more and more popular, as it means less and less. Often, and on 

 all sides we hear lengthy arguments and emphatic asservations to the effect that this or that plant is a 

 ' perfectly good species,' and if in the course of monographic work a so-called species is let down to varietal 

 rank, it rarely fails to find somewhere its ardent defenders, who appear to hold the curious view that the 

 monographer has not merely expressed a scientific opinion, but has somehow perpetrated an injustice 

 upon the plant or its describer. It will soon be accepted as indisputable that ' species must be subjected 

 to a gradual reclassification along more definite lines. . . . Each species must be examined in the 

 light of vastly more copious material than at present exists, even in our largest herbaria. . . . Let us 

 then, proceed with the accumulation of material, with the collection of specimens that may illustrate each 

 species at every stage of development in which it occurs. In this matter we are much behind zoologists ; 

 they often work with hundreds, or even thousands of specimens, while we try to draw like inferences from 

 dozens.' " (Pres. Add. before the Botanical Society of America, quoted in my Pres. Add., Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 

 Proc, xxvi, 801, 1901.) 



4. No fixed Line op Demarcation between Species. 



" Varietates Jevissimas non curat botanicus," says Linnaeus. 

 Asa Gray to Darwin, 30th June, 1855, remarks — 



"... for the rest it would not be extraordinary if, in any case, the discovery of intermediate 

 forms compelled their union " (of species). 



The same botanist observes — • 



" The fewer the materials, the smaller the likelihood of forms intermediate between any two, and, 

 what does not appear, being treated upon the old lawmaxim as non-existent. . , ." 



