— 95 — 



finger or pen a similar result can be obtained. The adaptation of the nar- 

 row inverted-funnel-shaped peristome is evident. If the opening were 

 larger the puff of air caused by the pressure on the capsule would not be 

 sufficient to carry out the spores and it would also admit water. Prof. Lloyd 

 thinks that this impeaches my statement that spores depend on wind for 

 distribution. I do not believe that the spores will be normally ejected from 

 the wet capsules, and surely the wind must play a considerable part in the 

 scattering of the dry spores after they are ejected. 



I hope some of our readers will try to make observations which will 

 answer the following questions: 



Will rain drops cause the ejection of the spores? I have not actually 

 seen this and Prof. Goebel does not state that he has, but the inference is 

 that he speaks from observation. It seems to me that insect footfalls and 

 other causes may be as potent as raindrops. Possibly spores may adhere to 

 the bodies of the animals which cause their discharge, and be still farther 

 distributed in this manner. 



Will the spores continue to be ejected after the capsules are wetted? 



Will the spores of Buxbaumia be ejected in a similar manner in any of 

 the species? I am particularly anxious to have this third question carefully 

 investigated because European bryologists state that the spores can not 

 escape through the peristome because of their large size. If this be true it 

 seems conclusive proof of the degeneracy of Buxbaumia, for surely the 

 highly developed peristome had a function at some time in the phylogenetic 

 history of the species. 



Members of the Sullivant Moss Chapter are specially requested to inves- 

 tigate and report. 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES AND THEIR CHANGES. 11. (Concluded).* 



By a. J. Grout. 



Two or more names which may have been applied to the same plant are 

 known as synonyms and whichever is adopted for the plant in question, 

 none of the others should be applied to any new species of that same genus. 

 This in order to avoid confusion. 



It sometimes happens that the same specific name is given to two species 

 in the same genus. Thus the moss which Schimper named Pylaisia veliitina 

 has been found by Cardot to be the moss which Hedwig called Pterigynan- 

 drum intricatum and which should be called Pylaisia intricata (Hedw.) 

 Cardot. 



Then the moss which has been passing as Pylaisia ifitricata (Hejdw.) 

 Schimp. has to have a new name, and M. Cardot proposes to call it P. Schim- 

 peri in honor of Schimper. In this case the confusion was caused by Schim- 

 per's failure to determine just what Hedwig's Pterigynandriim was. In 

 the more common case the man who uses the name the second time is ignor- 

 ant of its first use. 



*Dr. M. A. Howe calls my attention to the fact that the Berlin rule referred to in Part 

 I. was promulgated by the botanists of the Berlin Museum and not by a "Congress." 

 This rule, however, has been widely adopted. 



