THE CLASSIFICATION AND NAMING OF PLANTS 329 
CHLAMYDE# or that group in which the petals are either distinct 
and separate or entirely wanting and the METACHLAMYDE# or 
SYNPETAL@ in which the petals are more or less joined to form a 
tubular corolla. Large families may be subdivided into Sus- 
FAMILIES or tribes which in some works are given full family rank. 
A Hyprw is a cross breed of two varieties or species, rarely of 
two genera. 
A complete classification of the medicinal plant, Aconite, will 
show the principal subordinate groups of one of the divisions. 
(See p. 328.) 
BoTANIGAL NOMENCLATURE 
Before Carl von Linné (Linnaeus), the great Swedish natural- 
ist, brought forth the binomial system of nomenclature, no 
uniformity existed in the assignment of plant names. Among the 
pre-Linnean botanists there were some who designated plants 
by single names, others who employed sentences in naming 
‘them, some of which were quite lengthy, and a number who 
adhered to the practice of naming them in their own modern 
tongue. The result was quite obvious, a number of systems 
were employed and confusion prevailed among students. 
Specific Name.—According to the binomial system which 
has been universally adopted, every plant belongs to a species 
which is given two Latin names which together represent its 
Sprciric NAme. The first name is the name of the genus or 
Generic Name, the second, the name of the species or SPECIFIC 
Eprruet. The generic name corresponds, in the naming of 
persons, to the surname or family name, while the specific 
epithet is analagous to the given name. Thus, the Wild Cherry 
Species is named Prunus serotina, Prunus representing the name 
of the genus, serotina the specific epithet or kind of Prunus. 
The application of the specific name is determined by the 
type specimen, i.e., the specimen or more than one with which 
the author of the species worked. 
Generic Name.—The name of the genus (pl. genera) is 
always a noun in the singular number and must not be applied 
to more than one genus. Its spelling should begin with a 
capital letter. Genera names may be taken from any source 
