—79— 



Prantl is distinct from vulgatum, but it remains to be proven 

 whether it is distinct from O. nudicaule or not. 



Botrychium tenebrosum A. A. Eaton was long ago correctly 

 determined by Prof. D. C. Eaton as depauperate mat ricaritz folium 

 from specimens collected in Vermont by Mr. Pringle in 1874, and 

 figured in my Monograph on B. simplex (Figures 32 to 38) in 1877. 

 B. neglectum Wood is a mere synonym for B. 7natricaricefolium 

 R. Br., and is represented abroad by Milde's var. subintegra. 



As for the much abused B. ternatum group, having several 

 times published my own views it is needless for me to repeat them 

 here, but the following extracts from a recent communication 

 from the eminent European pteridologist, Dr. H. Christ, may not 

 be inapplicable : 



' ' I share in your way of seeing that all these forms belong to 

 one type — ternatum. After an elaborate study of all the speci- 

 mens in my possession, I find that there are few characters salient 

 enough to establish varieties, still less sub-species, with the ex- 

 ception of lunar ioides, which appears to me to claim such a place 

 by the reniform segments and the stalk so slightly raised of fruit- 

 ing part which give to the plant a very different aspect. * * * 

 But it seems to me absolutely erroneous to style these forms 

 1 species.' One who does this has no idea of what is a species in 

 the vegetable kingdom." 



Cheilanthes amojna A. A. Eaton is an unfortunate synonym 

 for C. Calif ornica, as originally determined by Prof. D. C. Eaton, 

 and it would have been better left unpublished. Pellcea occi- 

 dentalis Rydberg is apparently a depauperate alpine form of P. 

 atropurpurea, as I judge from a personal examination of the type 

 specimens in the National Museum. 



In the treatment of varieties Mr. Maxon is strangely incon- 

 sistent, recognizing some inconsequential forms and wholly ignor- 

 ing others of importance. Even his own Dennstcadtia punctilo- 

 bula crislata—a. form which has maintained itself in Nature for 

 the past twenty- five years, and this year has reasserted itself vig- 

 orously in my garden — is dropped altogether, while he appears to 

 be sadly at sea over his Polypodium vulgare deceptum, for which 

 it is to be hoped he will be able to find a satisfactory resting place 

 before many more synonyms are tacked on to it. Dryopteris 

 Goldiana celsa Palmer has been correctly referred to " Clin- 

 tonianum" by Dr. Underwood, judging from the specimens which 

 I have seen. The authority for " Aspidium spinulosum var. 



