32 
PRELIMINARY TREATISE. 
C. erubescens. It varies in different localities very much, 
and I call the varieties, 1. rubrilimbum, &c. 8. octoflorum. 
If any person thinks them more distinct than I do, he puts 
forward the name rubrilimbum or octoflorum, which at all 
times may be used alone for brevity, but the plant equally 
stands in its place with its affinities made evident. We have 
an American race with an ovate stoloniferous bulb, more 
erect leaves, and four flowers (rarely five), of which the first 
known was Americanum. This is followed by Commelini, 
strictum, and Loddigesi, more distinguished from each 
other than the varieties of erubescens, and therefore placed 
as species ; but if intermediate plants shall be found to bind 
the connexion closer, they will stand with the same names 
as varieties 1, 2, 3, &c. following Americanum, the var. 
princeps, or first of the family. A very important objection 
to the naming permanent local varieties by either figures or 
letters, is that it forces their arrangement to be made 
according to priority of notice and not according to affinity, 
or if those of later introduction are inserted in their proper 
places, the distinguishing marks and titles will be ever 
varying. I therefore entreat all botanists who may have 
occasion to name any new species in the genera I am about 
to describe, not to give to it anv name which I shall have 
affixed to a variety in the same or a closely allied genus. 
The distinction of local varieties by their place of abode, if 
surely ascertained, has great advantages, and the objection 
that they may, perhaps, be found in more situations is of 
no importance. I take this opportunity of cautioning all 
botanists against the introduction of any new species of 
Crinum, Hippeastrum, & c. without certain assurance of their 
being of wild growth in some specific place, because the 
hybrid varieties which have been raised by myself and others 
are innumerable, and from the multitude of species collected 
together now in the gardens at Calcutta, where I sent most 
of the hybrid as well as Occidental and African species, 
mules have lately originated there by accidental intermix- 
ture, and Dr. Carey found that he could no longer depend 
on the seed ripened in his garden. The accidental and cul- 
tivated are of a different character from the local varieties, 
and should have no Latin name, but be designated thus, — 
var. (fort, flore albo.) accid. fl. white, var. gard.. fl. double, 
var. hybrid by . Very great confusion is produced by 
the nurserymen giving a Latin name to every garden seed- 
