CCCX XXVII 
April 1893. Die Herausgeber von The Botanical Gazette S. 144/5. 
geben folgendes: 
Editorial. Attention should be called to the work of the standing committee of 
the American Association on Biological Nomenclature. "This Committee is the American 
representative of a proposed International Committee, having been appointed in response to 
a request from the Australasian Association. The movement promises to be as extensive 
as the original intention, and the American Committee, composed of Goodale, Coulter, 
Gill, Minot, and Gage, have gone seriously to work to prepare their contribution to the 
.work of the International Committee, the larger share of which, it is but just to say, has 
fallen upon Professor Gage. In these days, when investigation is being multiplied so 
enormously, and new terms are being constantly coined, a uniform system of nomen- 
clature in morphology is becoming no less desirable than in systematic work. 'The com- 
-mittee has formulated certain underlying principles to guide in the selection of a bjo- 
logical terminology, and it is the desire of the Gazette to call the attention of American 
botanists to these principles. "The first is that the names of organs and parts, and terms 
indieating position and direction, should be single designatory words so far as possible, 
rather than descriptive phrases. "The necessity for this becomes more apparent in zoolo- 
gical anatomy, where the names of men are often applied to anatomical structures, than 
in botanical, where the tendency is to follow this rule, though there are notable excep- 
tions. Another principle, which would have a good deal to do with botaniecal terminology, 
suggests that morphological terms should be etymologically correct, and so far as possible 
derived from Greek or Latin, and that each term should have a Latin form. Such phrases 
as *antipodal-cells", "sieve-tubes, etc., etc., would disappear under both of these principles. 
Another important principle recommends that each of thetechnical words have, in addition 
to its proper Latin form, a form which shall make it conform to the genius of the various 
languages, that is, that à paronym Le made for each technical word. "This is really a 
very important suggestion, and the word would be so slightly changed that one familiar 
with its classical form would recognize it instantly in either Italian, French, German, or 
English. There can be no doubt that if this principle of paronyms was adhered to the 
intelligibility of scientifie writing would be greatly increased. "The word *Biology" itself 
is an excellent example of what is meant. Whether Biologia," *La Diologia," *La Bio- 
logie," '*Die Biologie," or *Biology," it is always recognizable. 
The Committee also urgently recommend that whenever a technical word is used 
for the first time, the author should give, in a special note, the Latin form, the etymo- 
logy, the proper paronym for his own language, and as concise and precise a definition 
of the term as possible. "This is surely a reasonable price to pay for the introduction of 
a new term. "This exactness of definition should be as much demanded as the exact de: 
scription of a new species. 
It is also a very desirable thing to unify botanical and zoological morphology so 
far as possible. "The subject is a very difficult one, and such a movement would neces- 
sarily be slow, but it was begun when the name protoplasm was adopted for the same 
substance in both plants and animals. All this involves ihe preparation by the International 
Committee of an authoritative glossary of biological terms, and the keeping of a systematic 
record of new terms. Like many other movements toward desired uniformity, its first 
result will probably be seen in the adoption by individual biologists of a conscious and 
P. Browne: Acidoton, Acidanthera, Adelia, Alicastrum, Batis, Blakea, 
Chytraculia (— Chitralia Ad. inel. Suzygiuwm), Coccocipsilum. (incl. Sicelium), 
Comocladia, Ecastophyllum, Ehretia, Hypelate, Lisianthius, Macrocnemum, 
Metopium, Omphalandria (—. Omphalia L. 1959), Pharus, Pocillaria, Sa- 
pium,  Sechium, Spathe (— Spathelia L. 1759), Xylopierum (2 Xylopia 
L. 1759). No less than 62 genera of P. Browne are valid, among whicb several 
are better known under wrong quotations of ,adopting* authors; but as he gave 
good genera-diagnoses he is to be quoted alone. : 
274») As shown in Note 245 and 278* there exists no other resolution 
passed by the Genoa Congress for the international committee than to decide on 
the Berlin fourth proposition; what is said more in the ,official notification* inclu- 
sive of ,the future World's congress, the decisions of which shall have the 
force of law", are free additions of Mr. Ascherson. 
