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DERIVATIONS OF THE LATIN NAMES OF PLANTS. 



Article I. 



By Mb. T. B. Hall. 



According to the request of Mr. Edwin Lees, at Vol. II., p. 420, of The 

 Naturalist, I send you a list of the derivations of the names of our British 

 plants; I prepared it for my own use previous to undertaking the study of 

 Botany, and have since found it very useful, as it contributed much to fix the 

 names in my memory. I was not aware, at the time that I took so much pains 

 in collecting the derivations from various old works, that Sir W. J. Hooker had 

 given them in his valuable work, the British Flora, but as that may not be in 

 the hands of many of your readers, I trust these derivations, imperfect as they 

 may be found, will prove acceptable. The remarks that I added at the time 

 were principally from Sir J. E. Smith's English Flora, and the works from which 

 I extracted the derivations ; but from having access to various botanical works, 

 I am enabled to add-eonsiderably to them, and trust that they will not be found 

 altogether uninteresting. To such as are well acquainted with Botany they may 

 perhaps be looked upon as trifling,* but to those who are accustomed to look 

 upon Botany as a dry study, these casual remarks may perhaps be the means 

 of leading them to reconsider their verdict. I have made such additions from 

 Sir "W. J. Hooker's British Flora as will I think make the derivations tolerably 

 complete ; but should there be any deficiencies, perhaps some of your corres- 

 pondents will supply them, and correct any that may be wrong or misapplied. 



If you deem them worthy of a place in your valuable magazine, I shall be 

 happy to send you a continuation, either with or without the remarks, as you 

 may consider best. It gives me great pleasure to revert to the period when 

 I first compiled it, in conjunction and with the assistance of a friend who was at 

 that time enthusiastically fond of Botany, and to whom I am almost entirely 

 indebted for what little knowledge I possess of that study. 



Acer. — From acer, sharp or hard, on account of the sharpness of its juice 

 and hardness of the wood. It is the badge of the clan Oliphant. 



Acer campestre, Common Maple. — This was formerly the principal wood for 

 all kinds of cabinet work, and, according to Evelyn, the knobs of ancient trees 

 affording beautiful and richly- variegated specimens were collected by the curious 

 at high prices. When beautifully veined or spotted, it was much prized by the 



* Were this the case, it is not likely that Mr. Lees would have made the request. We more- 

 over positively know that many good naturalists are ignorant of the signification of the terms they 

 daily employ. — En. 



