THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 131 



The group of plants under discussion, having been known 

 from the earHest times, has many genus names whose origins 

 are lost in the mists of antiquity. In such cases, conjecture of- 

 ten takes the place of knowledge and leads to suggestions that 

 may or may not be correct. Acacia said by Gray to be the 

 name of an Egytian species, but Wood derives it from akaso 

 meaning '* to sharpen" in allusion to its spines, while Britton 

 says the name means a point or thorn. According to Gray, 

 Cassia is another name of uncertain derivation, but Wood, 

 who is usually more discriminating in such things says it is 

 from the Hebrew Katzioth. Cercis is said by one authority 

 to be the name of the oriental Judas tree which indicates 

 nothing. Another, and probably the correct derivation, is 

 from Kerkis a weaver's shuttle in allusion to its pods. Soph- 

 ora is the ancient name of a plant allied to our present species, 

 according to Linnaeus, and Britton adds that it is from the 

 Arabic for yellow. The present writer, not being familiar 

 enough with the ancient languages to have an opinion, presents 

 these suggestions for what they are worth. Arachis (from 

 araco.!r),and Ulex are ancient names used by Pliny. Cytissus 

 is supposed to be an early Roman name for a plant which 

 this one resembles, Anthyllis is an old name used by Disoscori- 

 des, Lathyriis is the name of a Grecian plant mentioned by 

 Theophrastus, Lotus is a name from the ancient Greek, and 

 Astragalus, taken from the same tongue, denotes some un- 

 known member of the Leguminosae. Sesbania is the Latin- 

 ized form (jf scshan reputed to be of Arabic origin. 



Of generic names derived from some characteristic of 

 the flower, we have Stylosanthes from two Greek words 

 meaning style or column, and flower, Centrosema from 

 kentron a spur in allusion to the corolla, Oxytropsis from 

 words meaning sharp and keel, and Petalostemum, more 



