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of opinion as to the correct spelling of this generic name, the incorrect spelling Buphane having been used more than any other. Herbert's original spelling was Boophane. Since his first species was Haemanthus toxicarius Linn. f., Bot. Mag. t. 1217, which is there stated to be fatal to horned cattle, it is clear that Wittstein's, derivation from βους* = ox and Φονη* = murder is correct. The spelling phane therefore, is without doubt an unintentional orthographic error and should be corrected to phone under Article 70 of the International Rules of Botanical Nomen- clature, a correction which Herbert himself made in 1825 (Bot. Mag. post t. 2606) when he spelt the name Buphone. There is however no justification under the International Rules for his altering Boo to Bu, since the former is the uncontracted stem of βους*. Marloth's derivation (FI. S. Afr. 4. 115 1915) of the name " Bupho " (i. e. Bufo) = toad is an uninspired guess. The Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |