on the Language of Botany. 157 
Thefe and other exceptions, which will readily prefent them- 
felves to any one who confiders the fubjeét, being admitted; the 
advantage of the fcience will be moft effectually confulted by re- 
taining the Linnean terms, whenever there is no cogent reafon to 
the contrary. It is frequently even dangerous to fubftitute equi- 
valent terms; or at leaft it requires the utmoft caution, if we would 
avoid confufion. Thus, if we tranflate the two Linnean terms deci- 
duus and caducus by the fame Englifh word falling, two diftinét ideas 
are confounded*: would it not therefore be better to ufe the two 
Latin terms, with an Englifh termination, deciduous and caducous? 
Plumofus is rendered feathery; and pinnatus, feathered: but is not this 
-confounding ideas totally diftinét? and are not therefore the terms 
plumous or rather plumofe, and pinnated or rather pinnate, to be pre- 
ferred? Dichotomus may be tranflated forked: but this Englifh term 
implying no more than one divifion into two parts, does by no 
means fully exprefs the idea of a ftem continually and regularly 
dividing in pairs from the bottom to the aa Surely then dichotomous + 
is preferable to forked. 
But where fhall we find Englifh words to exprefs all the varia- 
tions of pubefcence, which Linnzus has difcriminated with fo 
much nicety{? Some of them indeed may very well admit of tranf- 
* Caducus fignifies a more quick or fudden falling off than deciduus. The calyx of the 
Poppy dropping before the corolla is unfolded, is faid to be caducus. In Berberis, and many 
plants of the clafs Tetradynamia, it falls off; but not till after the corolla is expanded : the 
calyx in this cafe is faid to be deciduus. 
+ If the jus et norma loquendi would permit, I fhould be for rendering all Latin adjectives 
ending in ws, by the Englifh termination ous; and all fuch as end in gfus, by the termina- 
tion ge. .— 
+ As feabrities, lana, lanugo, villus, tomentum, pili, fete, firigæ, hami, flimuli, aculei, 
farce, fpine, &c. and the adjectives derived from thefe and others ; as Janatus, lanugino/us, 
villofus, tomentofus, pilofus, fetaceus, ftrigofus, hamatus, aculeatus, furcatus, fpinofus, dd 
hirtus, hirfutus, bifpidus, exa/peratus, &c. 
lation; 
