116 NOMENCLATURE 



CHAPTER XVII. 



§1. NOMENCLATURE. 



360. The names of the Ordcrsfave Latin adjectives, (feminine, plural, to agree 

 with plahtcE, plants, understood,) usually derived from the name of the most 

 prominent, or leading genus, in each, by changing or prolonging tho ^cnnination 

 into acccs, as RosacecE, the rose tribe, Papaveracea, the poppy tribe, from Eosa and 

 Papavcr. . 



a. Earlier names, however, derived from some leading character in the Order, 

 and witli various terminations, are still retained. Thus, Composit(E, -svith com- 

 pound flowers ; Labiatce, with labiate flowers. 



361. Generiifna.me!i are Latin substantives, arbitrarily fonned, often from some 

 medicinal vu-tue, either supposed or real, or from some obvious character of the 

 genus ; sometimes from tlie native countiy of the plants, or from the name of 

 some distinguished botanist, or patron of botany, to whom the genus is thus said 

 to be dedicated. Also the ancient classic names, either Latin or Greek, are often 

 retained. Examples of all tliese modes of construction will be hereafter seen. ., 



362. Spccijjc names are Latin adjectives, singuhir number, and agreeing in gen- 

 der with the name of the genus to which they belong. They are mostly founded 

 upon some distinctive character of the species; as Gerardia glauca, ghmcous- 

 stemmed Gerardia ; G. purpurea, purple-flowered Gerardia ; G.-tenuifolia, slender- 

 leaved Gerardia. Frequently the species is named after some other genus, which, 

 in some respect, it resembles ; as Gerardia quercifolia, oak-leaved Gerardia. G. 

 delphimfolia, larkspur-leaved Gerardia. 



363. Species, like genera, are also sometimes named in commemoration of dis- 

 tinguished persons. ) The rales given by Lindley, for the construction of such 

 names, are, 1st, -If the person is the discoverer, the specific name is a substantive 

 in the genitive case, singular number ; as. Lobelia Kaimii, Kalm's Lobelia ; Finns 

 Fraseri, Eraser's pine. 2d, If the name is merely conferred in honor of the per- 

 son to whom it is dedicated, it is an adjective ending in nus, na, *>iu7n; as Erica 

 Linneana, Linna;us's heath ; Rosa Lawrcnciana, Miss Lawrence's rose. In these 

 cases, and in all others where the specific name is derived from proper names, or 

 where it is substantive, as it often is, it should begin with a capital letter. 



§2. BOTANICAL ANALYSIS. 



364. Tlic application of the rules of Systematic Botany to the 

 natural plant, in order to ascertain its affinities, place, name, &c. 

 is called' botanical analysis) 



365. In order to be in a proper state for this kind of examina- 

 tion plants should be in full blossom, and fresh, that is, not with- 



