24 Contributions from the Gray Herbarium’ 
pappus, however, the plant agrees perfectly with Aphanostephus 
of the Bellidinae. In this genus the pappus is reduced, in all the 
hitherto known forms except one, to a more or less obscure ring or 
cup ciliolate or fimbrillate on the margin. From these normal 
members of the genus A. Kidderi presents such a strong technical 
difference in its well-developed pappus that its recognition as a 
distinct genus in another subtribe from A phanostephus (Asterinae) 
might be plausibly supported, in view of the somewhat artificial 
nature of the distinctive characters now current for generic and 
higher groups in the Astereae. However, in the plant above re- 
ferred to, A. skirrhobasis var. Hallii,! a pappus occurs precisely 
intermediate in character between the ciliolate or fimbrillate cup 
of typical Aphanostephus and the well-developed sub-2-seriate 
circle of 10 paleae found in A. Kidderi. In A. skirrhobasis var. 
Hallii the cup which crowns the achene is continued upward into 
some 10 triangular to lanceolate spinulose-ciliolate scales which 
may be as much as 0.5 mm. long, in a single series and con- 
nate only for a short distance at base. The existence of this rare 
variety makes it clear that the recognition of A phanostephus 
Kidderi as of independent generic rank is not advisable. It may, 
however, be taken to typify a subgenus Pappophanus: acheniis et 
radii et disci pappo e aristis 10 paleaceis sistente praeditis. The 
other species of Aphanostephus, with A. ramosissimus DC. as 
type, will form the subgenus Euaphanostephus: acheniis cupula 
ciliolata vel fimbrillata rare in aristas 10 breves lanceolatas pro- 
ducta praeditis. 
I have much pleasure in dedicating the species to Mr. Nathaniel 
T. Kidder, who discovered the plant many years ago while on & 
collecting trip in the Western States in company with Mr. C. Ss. 
Sargent and Mr. C. E. Faxon. As the data accompanying the 
specimens in the Gray Herbarium reads only “San Antonio to 
Laredo, 26 Mch. 1885,” Mr. Kidder has supplied the following 
extracts from his journal which serve to determine somewhat 
more closely the habitat of the plant. “Thurs: 26 Mch. 85. 
San Antonio, Texas. Warm and cloudy. S(argent) and I up at 
8 a.m. for Laredo, while F. (C. E. Faxon) stays here to collect a few 
more things. 
1 APHANOSTEPHUS SKIRRHOBASIS (DC.) Trel. var. Hallii (Gray) Blake, 
comb. noy. — A. arkansanus (DC.) Gray var. Halli Gray ! Syn. F/. i. pt- 2. 
164 (1884). 




