SrS REMARKS ON 



illustrating the impregnation of plants, \vhich 

 the remarkable form and union of its anthers 

 serve to indicate ; while Smilhia scnsitiva, 

 named by Mr. Dryander^' in the Hortus 

 Kewcnsis of our mutual friend Aiton, could 

 at that time be merited only by an original 

 treatise on the Irritability of Plants)-, to 

 which the specific name happily alludes. 



The generic name being fixed, the specific 

 one is next to be considered. With respect 

 to this, Rivinus has the merit of originality, 

 havinjv been the first to contrive namins: each 

 plant in two words. But his names were 

 meant for specific definitions, for \\ hich they 

 are totally inadequate. Linnaeus, in construct- 

 ing his more accurate and full specific cha- 

 racters, intended the latter should serve as 

 names, and therefore called them nomina 

 specijica* When he, most fortunately for 

 the science and for the popularity of his whole 

 System of Nature, invented the present sim- 

 ple specific names, he called them nomina 

 frivialia, trivial, or for common u.'^e ; but 

 that term is now superfluous. 



* Salhl. HQrt.3A<2. f I'hll. Trans, for i:ss. 



