279—THE NAME POLYSACOUM. 
This generic name was adopted by Fries in his Systema, eighty 
years ago and has been in general use ever since. “Many sacs” is 
surely as appropriate a name as this genus can bear. The name 
Pisolithus a few years “prior” has also been known, cited, and rejected 
by most common sense botanists for a hundred years, no doubt be¬ 
cause it is such a false name. Why call a plant “pea-stones” when 
the “peas” are the most friable and fragile objects we have in the 
puff-ball family. Modern name changers have recently dug it up, and 
produce a diagram showing the wonderful fact (which I think was 
generally known before) that 1805 is an earlier date than 1807. Why 
do they not dig up the name given it by Micheli “Lycoperdoides” 
which is eighty years earlier, and make a good job of it while they are 
about it. 
280-AUSTRALIAN FAIRY-RING PUFF-BALL 
We have just received an interesting pamphlet from D. 
McAlpine under the above title. It is an account of a species which 
reaches us abundantly from Australia and Europe and Prof. McAlpine 
has given a good account and an excellent figure of it. Unfortunately 
however, he has misdetermined it, referring it to Lycoperdon furfura- 
ceum on the crude cut of Schaeffer. While there is a possibility that 
it may have been the original of Schaeffer’s cut on account of the 
shape, the cortex is quite different from that which Schaefer shows and 
there is another plant in Europe with a furfuraceous cortex that is 
generally accepted as being Schaeffer’s plant. The plant that Prof. 
McAlpine illustrates is certainly Lycoperdon hiemale of Vittadini, 
doubtfully Lycoperdon hiemale of Bulliard and probably Lycoperdon 
pratense of Persoon. 
281—HISTORICAL NOTES. 
In investigating the history of the puff-balls in the museums of 
Europe we find several names in common use not in keeping with 
historical accuracy. We do not believe in changing names that have 
become established by use, and we see no reason why the historical 
truth cannot be told without making it an excuse to change names. 
GEASTER FIMBRIATUS. 
The most common species in Europe, has been known under this 
name since the days of Fries’ Systema. Fries describes it ‘ without 
determinate mouth” and that is the character of it. It has so become 
generally known not only in collections but in books. Several hundred 
specimens are in the museums so named, and only a few bear any other 
name. And yet Geaster fimbriatus is Geaster rufescens of Persoon ac¬ 
cording to all Persoon’s specimens. And Geaster rufescens “Persoon” 
has now acquired a different signification. The plant called Geaster 
fimbriatus is correctly named and the only object in shuffling it about 
on the facts would be that it would release the plant now generally 
known as Geaster rufescens to be described as a “new species.” 
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