354 
MERRILL, 
tulacae folio Plum. Nov. Gen. 21, which is manifestly Scaevola plumieri 
(L.) Vahl, where it is referred by Krause. The seeds mentioned by Miller 
as having been sent to England from the Bahamas by Mr. Catesby must 
have been of the latter species, S. plumieri, not of S. koenigii Vahl, for 
S. koenigii Vahl is not found in the western hemisphere. If the first ref- 
erence be taken as the type, then Krause is correct in adopting Miller’s 
specific name for the present species; if on the other hand the first ref- 
erence to a figure be taken as the type, then Lobelia frutescens Mill., is a 
synonym of Scaevola plumieri Vahl. 
W. F. Wight in applying the principle of generic types has decided that 
the plants referred by botanists generally to Scaevola should be referred to 
Lobelia, as the type of the genus Lobelia is a Scaevola. While this may 
be the logical outcome of the application of the principle in this case, yet 
the nomenclatural confusion that this course of procedure entails is so 
great that it is not considered probable that Mr. Wight’s proposition will 
receive the support of any considerable number of botanists. 
Scaevola frutescens (Mill.) Krause is represented by the following Phil- 
ippine material: 
Babuyanes Islands, Camaguin, Bur. Sci. ilOO Fenix; Batanes Islands, 
Batan, Bur. Sci. 36J^3 Fenix. Luzon, Province of Zambales, Merrill 2095: 
Province of Pangasinan, For. Bur. 8364. Curran & Merritt: Province of 
Tayabas, Whitford 897, For. Bur. 3208 Hagger: Province of Camarines, 
Ahern 229. Apo Island, Mindoro Strait, Merrill 416. Busuanga, Phil. 
PI. 405 Merrill. Polillo, Bur. Sci. 6950 Robinson. Palawan, Bur. Sci. 
617 Foxworthy. Balabac, Bur. Sci. 384 Mangubat. Masbate, Merrill 
3043. Basilan, For. Bur. 3997 Hutchinson. Mindanao, District of Davao, 
Elmer 12033. 
The above form is the most common one in the Philippines and has 
glabrous or only slightly pubescent leaves. The corolla externally and 
the fruits are quite glabrous. 
A form with nearly or quite glabrous leaves, the corolla, externally, 
and the fruits more or less hirsute is less common and is represented 
by the following specimens : 
Luzon, Province of Zambales, Sandkuhl, November, 1909; Province of 
Pangasinan, Bur. Sci. 4897 Ramos. Palawan, For. Bur. 3774 Curran. 
Mindanao, District of Davao, Piper 405, Copeland 674. 
This form appears to be intermediate between the glabrous plant, 
which I take to be typical Scaevola frutescens as interpreted by Krause, 
that is, the Ceylon form, and Scaevola sericea Forst., which Krause 
has sunk with numerous other synonyms under Scaevola frutescens. I 
consider that Forster’s plant is at least worthy of varietal rank. 
Var. SERICEA (Forst) comb. nov. 
Scaevola sericea Forst. Prodr. (1786) 504. 
Luzon, without definite locality, Haenke in Herb. Prague: Province of 
Ilocos Sur, Merrill 339, June, 1912. Volkens 133, from the Island of Yap, 
Carolines, is identical. 
This variety is distinguished from the more common and nearly 
glabrous form by its leaves being uniformly and rather softly pubescent 
on both surfaces, the infiorescences, flowers externally, and the fruits 
also pubescent. 
Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 9 (1905) 310. 
