THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



69 



The range of the species is given as from Southern New Eng- 

 land to Maryland while the so-called form extends west to the 

 Minnesota. Recently the species, that is, the one with two- 

 colored flowers, has been reported from northern Illinois and 

 one may be pardoned for thinking that the occurrence is due to 

 some external influence, rather than to a fundamental or in- 

 herited characteristic. Certainly if Britton's Manual does not 

 make it a species, its claim to even varietal rank must rest on 

 no very solid basis. Those who- encounter these plants this 

 spring would do well to keep watch for both forms. 



Krascheninnikowia Maximowicziana. — The non- 

 botanical are wont to observe that the scientific names of plants 

 are ''fearfully and wonderfully made" and the name which 

 stands as the title of this paragraph goes far to substantiate 

 the statement. It also serves to illustrate the lack of perception 

 in the typical scientist. Who, except the scientific man, too 

 deeply engrossed in his work to see the humor of the situation, 

 could giA^e a pretty and delicate plant such an uncouth name as 

 this? However, it is possible that in carping at this name we 

 may be following the example of the ignorant who are prone 

 to smile at unfamiliar words. Were we Russians the name of 

 the plant might sound at least as smooth as Pipcrsinitlui, 

 National parkcnsis and a few others of equal mellifluousness 

 put over on this side of the world. Krascheninnikozma Maxi- 

 moi^'icziaua is a small herb belonging to the pink family and by 

 man}^ is known simply as Stcllaria bulbosa. A Russian named 

 Turczinow made the diabolical genus name under which the 

 plant is now placed, but a Frenchman is responsible for the 

 tongue-tangling specific name. Fortunately for us, the plant 

 is a Japanese species and we may let our little brown brothers 

 worry over the pronunciation of the scientific cognomen. It 

 probably sounds a good deal like it would look printed in 

 Japanese characters. 



