158 THE PLANT WORLD 



EDITORIAL 



The subject of botanical nomenclature is not one of much popular 

 interest, and we have always pursued a consistent course of barring 

 from our columns all discussion of this subject from a technical stand- 

 point, although our book reviewers, writing over their own initials or 

 signatures, have naturally expressed their own personal convictions. 

 We have, however, frequently explained the necessity for the use of 

 scientific names, and have pointed out numerous cases, such as gera- 

 nium, gladiolus, rhododendron, bouvardia and camellia, in which the 

 scientific and popular appellations are one and the same. We believe 

 no one will deny the great advantage of this condition of things, or will 

 fail to admit that the practice should be extended as much as possible. 

 Why not speak of an Erythronium rather than a " dog's-tooth- violet ;" 

 and a Polygala rather than a "white snakeroot," when the latter terms 

 are absolutely meaningless, and convey no hints as to the characters 

 or appearances of the plants? On the other hand, such familiar words 

 as honeysuckle, buttercup and the like, are classics, and serve a dis- 

 tinct use in the language. They are part of the folk-lore of plants, and 

 frequently, if not always, are self-explanatory. 



We have had under consideration for some time the feasibility of 

 publishing a list of genus names which should be adopted into popular 

 usage, together with their present equivalents. An expression of views 

 on this topic from our readers would be welcome. 



