238 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
Gronovius, and the other, accompanied by a figure, by Plukenet. 
Gronovius, too, cites Plukenet’s description and figure, so that it is 
upon these that the decision must largely depend. Accompanying 
my article in the Asa Gray bulletin, a plate was published giving a 
careful copy by Mr. Charles E. Faxon of Plukenet’s figure. It 
represents a plant with a stem bearing a few scattered lanceolate 
leaves, and surmounted by a globular cluster of 8 or 9 heads, and at 
the very base are five small spatulate leaves. Two stolons are rep¬ 
resented as coming from the base of the plant, one of them with a 
terminal cluster of very large ovate triple-nerved leaves ; the other 
more elongated and bearing a few scattered small leaves similar to 
those of the flowering stem and a couple of ovate triple-nerved 
terminal ones. Plukenet’s descriptive note, 1 “ Gnaphalium Planta- 
ginis, folio Virginianum, White Plantain (i. e.) Plantago Candida 
Nostratibus, vulgo,” was short; but, accompanied by the character¬ 
istic figure, it should be of service in settling what plant he had in 
mind. The small basal leaves, accompanied by such very large 
terminal ones as Plukenet represents, are not matched by any 
plant with Avhich we are familiar ; but considering the age and rather 
conventional character of the drawing it is most nearly approached 
by one of our common species. 
In discussing, in the article already mentioned, the plant which I 
have taken to match Plukenet’s figure and note I have said : “ The 
plant which this figure represents, it will be remembered, came from 
Virginia, and, in looking through our American plants for the species 
which approaches nearest the original plate, we find a form coming 
not only from Virginia, but growing in some abundance from Maine 
and Wisconsin south to Louisiana. This plant has not only the 
large ovate basal leaves and the scattered lanceolate cauline ones of 
Plukenet’s drawing, but the stems and leaves (at least when young) 
are covered with a conspicuous white pubescence, which might well 
have suggested the 4 White Plantain (i. e .) Plantago Candida’ of 
Plukenet.” 
Continuing the discussion from which the foregoing extract is 
taken, I showed how different from this white-pubescent plant, which 
was taken for A. plantaginea , was the recently described A. 
parlinii. The drawing by Mr. Faxon of the latter plant brings 
out very clearly many of the striking differences, but the very im¬ 
portant color characters could be brought out only by the descriptive 
1 Pluk. Aim., p. 171. 
