osbeck's dagbok ofwer en ostindsk resa 
585 
Solidago chinensis Osbeck, Dagbok Ostind. Resa 241. 1759 = ? 
This was from Dane's Island, near Whampoa, October 20, 1751, 
and certainly is no Solidago. Solidago virgaurea L. occurs in Kwang- 
tung Province, but not at low altitudes. The original description, 
which is entirely inadequate, is as follows: ''Solidago (chinensis) 
caule procumbente, ramis alternis, foliis radicalibus linearibus. Obs. 
vix pedalis." The description is rather definite, and it is possible 
that the identity of the species may be determined at a later date. 
The name does not appear in Index Kewensis. 
Tetradapa javanorum Osbeck, Dagbok Ostind. Resa 93. 1757 = 
Erythrina indica Lam. 
The original description of this species is as follows: ''Tetradapa 
Javanorum. Erythrina Corallodendron ? Descr. Perianthium mono- 
phyllum, spathaceum, breve, ovatum. Vexillum magnum, includens 
petala 4 ovalia, breviora. Stamina decem, quorum 9 ad medium 
connexa. Filamenta subulata. Antherae erectae oblongae. Germen 
longum, lanatum. Stylus subulatus. Stigma pubescens, nutans. 
Flores racemosi sive verticillati, rubri, caduci. Fructus, sub arbore 
jacens (si hujus arboris non dicam) erat legumen rhomboideum 
compressum. Semina duo reniformia." The description is followed 
by a statement in Swedish regarding the size of the tree, color of its 
flbwers, etc., and a reference to Gelala litorea Rumph. Herb. Amb. 3: 
231. t. 77, which is Erythrina indica Lam. The specimens were ob- 
served by Osbeck near Anjer, Java, July 16, 1751, associated with 
numerous other typical strand plants. 
It is apparent that Osbeck intended " Tetradapa " as a new generic 
name, although it is not so indicated, and both the generic and specific 
name have been overlooked by all subsequent botani&ts; Tetradapa is 
no Javanese name. While Tetradapa javanorum Osbeck is unques- 
tionably an exact synonym of Erythrina indica Lam., it seems to be 
necessary to adopt, as the oldest specific name for the species, Ery- 
thrina variegata L. in Stickman Herb. Amb. 10. 1754, Amoen. Acad. 4: 
122. 1759, which is based solely on Gelala alba Rumph. Herb. Amb. 
2: 234. pi. 77. Gelala alba Rumph. = Erythrina variegata L. is merely 
a form of the common Erythrina indica Lam. with slightly variegated 
leaves, and presents no characters by which two species may be dis- 
tinguished. Unless this name be accepted, the rules of priority would 
necessitate the transfer of Tetradapa javanorum to Erythrina, for 
