20 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



allusion to the laciniate petals. Calceolaria is from calceolus, a 

 slipper, which the sachate lower petal suggests. Leptandra, by 

 which a section of Veronica is sometimes known, means slen- 

 der stamens, these organs being quite conspicuous in the plants 

 so named. Micranthemum, means, simply, small-flowered. 



The genus Veronica is supposed to have been named for St. 

 Veronica whose own name from Vera icon "true image" is 

 connected with an interesting legend familiar to everybody. 

 Whether the first Veronica was named because it bloomed on 

 the day dedicated to the saint, or whether the plants, being 

 medicinal, were under the protection of this saint, does not 

 seem to be known. 



Genera dedicated to less saintly personages are not uncom- 

 mon in this family. Seymeria is for Henry Seymer an English 

 naturalist, Castilleja is for the Spanish botanist Domingo Cas- 

 tillejo, Buchnera is for J. G. Buchner an early German bo- 

 tanist, Collifisia is for Zacheus Collins, an 18th century botan- 

 ist of Philadelphia and Schzvalhea is for C. G. Schwalbe an 

 obscure German. The name Gerardia commemorates John 

 Gerarde, the famous author of the "Great Herbal" issued 

 about 1597, while Paivlonia is named for Anna Pawlona, a 

 Russian princess, daughter of the Czar Paul I. 



Peculiarities of the plants, otlier than the flowering parts 

 have given names to such genera as Linaria where the refer- 

 ence is to the leaves like those of the flax {Linum). The 

 mulleins have the very appropriate name of Verbascum which 

 was originally harhascuui from harha a beard. Synthyris is 

 Greek for "doors closed" in allusion to the form of the seed 

 capsule. Orthocarpiis is the Latin for straight fruit and 

 Melampyriun is Greek for "black wheat", the name said to 

 have been given to these plants in allusion to the dark colored 

 seeds of the species. 



