406 Transactions. — Botany. 



name Latinised (simple or compound) is used. Thus, among 

 those of our New Zealand Hci^atica we have — of the former 

 class, (1) Jungermannia, in honour of L. Jungermann, a 

 botanical author ; this genus is a very large one — formerly 

 (and until the last forty-five years) nearly all our present 

 genera were included in this one : (2) Fridlania (another large 

 genus), named after Signor L. Frullani, an eminent Italian 

 statesman and great patron of botany : (3) Lejeunia (a very 

 large and cosmopolitan genus, stated by Hooker in 1864 to 

 contain 236 species, which have been largely increased since), 

 named in honour of Dr. A. L. S. Lejeune, a botaiiical author : 

 (4) Gottschea, " a noble genus, almost confined to the Southern 

 Hemisphere, and abundant in New Zealand " (Hook., I.e., 

 p. 512), named after the celebrated cryptogamic botanist and 

 author Dr. C. M. Gottsche : and of the latter class — (1) Tri- 

 chocolea = hairy sac or bag (such being the state of its calyx) ; 

 (2) Polyotus — many ears (from the very peculiar appearance of 

 its neat little concave aiid lobulated leaves) ; (3) IsotacJiis = 

 equal-rowed spike or ear — as of wheat, &c. (the leaves of this 

 elegant species forming two close and very regular rows, while 

 a third and similar row is formed of its large stipules) ; 

 (4) Plagiochila = oblique lip, or mouth — of its calyx ; (5) Maclo- 

 tJieca = bald, smooth, largely-rounded capsule, issuing from its 

 calyx bag or case ; (6) Mastigohrijum = whiplash-like moss 

 (from its very long and slender scaly aerial rootlets, resembling 

 the scaly stem of a minute Lycopodiuvi, a peculiar and strik- 

 ing feature) ; (7) Lepidozia = scaly bud (gemma), from its 

 general appearance ; (8) Ghiloscyijlms = cup-shaped lips, from 

 the form of its calyx ; (9) Psiloclada = slenderly branched, 

 sparingly leaved ; (10) Zoopsis = rigid, silvery, scaly, animal- 

 like ; (11) Ane2ira = without nerve. 



Now, these and suchlike generic names (and there are 

 many such among our New Zealand plants) convey a true and 

 useful prima facie meaning to those who know the Greek and 

 Latin languages, and such natural names aid in properly placing 

 newly-discovered species under their respective genera. And, 

 strange as it may seem to English ears, such names are far 

 more scientific and serviceable than many of those common 

 and plain ones of our English plants, as alder, ash, apple, 

 cherry, oak, larch, plum, &c. 



Here, I think, I may properly relate a striking observation 

 of Bishop Selwyn's on this very subject of (the so-called) 

 " hai'd botanical names." The Bishop had been looking over 

 my manuscript scientific catalogue of New Zealand plants 

 (which I had collected from various sources for my own use, 

 there being then no published work on New Zealand botany) 

 for their names for his " Church Almanac;" and, he having 

 casually remarked on " the reproach of the science " (its often 



