Description

An interesting discussion has lately arisen between Professor C.S.[Charles Sprague] Sargent and himself concerning the oldest name for Crataegus flava var. pubescens A.Gray. The oldest name for this plant known to American botanists at present is Mespilus hyemalis of Walter published in 1788, FLORA CAROLINIANA. Sudworth thinks this name should be reinstated in varietal rank if the two can be shown to be the same. He wishes to settle this question before issuing a check list of their arborescent flora and asks Thiselton-Dyer to compare Walter's original Mespilus with the specimen of C. flava var. pubescens he has forwarded. Sudworth requests the return of the specimen as it is the only one the Department Herbarium currently possesses. Folio 1120 comprises a note describing four species of Mespilus in Walter's Herbarium, none of which are C. flava var. pubescens A.Gray. A note in another hand states M. hyemalis is not in Walter's herbarium in the British Museum. Page 1 of 3.