70 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY 



is a common tree in northern South longs to a European chmber, often cul- 

 America. If you say liousc or mouse to a tivated in this country, but we have also 

 German, he will understand you, for used the word for other kinds of plants 

 the words are just the same, to the ear, which cling to walls or trail over the 

 in both languages, but if \ou try to talk ground. Boston ivy is related to the 

 about ).rees to a German tree-expert, grapes, not to the true ivy; poison ivy 

 he can not understand your JEnglish is a kind of sumac; Kenilworth ivy is 

 names and you can not understand his more like a snapdragon than either. 

 German names. You will have to get Here are four different kinds of plants 

 together in a language that both can ap- bearing the name of ivv. To most peo- 

 prcciate, and the only system of names pie the word oak means a good-sized 

 you can safely use is what we call scien- tree which bears acorns. But we also use 

 tifie names. This is just one of the the word to denote poison ivy and even 

 underlying reasons for the use of Latin a little herbaceous plant, while the 

 names for plants. There are others Australians also use it for two entirely 

 which I will mention later. different kinds of trees. And so it goes 

 "But,'' my neighbor across the street with any number of other names. The 

 objects, "I can't pronounce those long use of the names, their application to 

 scientific names. I like to grow my plants, varies from one part of the 

 geraniums and rhododendrons, my iris country to another, and even from one 

 and chrysanthemums; I like my fine person to another, 

 magnolia and catalpa trees, but I can't Now oak and ivy are in a way gen- 

 learn those awful Latin names." Then eral terms, not intended to apply to one 

 I reply: "Every one of the names you particular kind of plant, but to a whole 

 have just used is a scientific name. If group of plants. If we want to be par- 

 5'ou do not like Latin names, why don't ticular about some kind of oak, we can 

 you call your catalpa Indian bean, your say red oak or white oak or pin oak. But 

 rhododendron rose-bay, your chrysan- this does not always work, either. There 

 themum feverfew?" are at least two kinds of post oaks, three 

 "Well," he answers, "most of your kinds of black oaks, three kinds of 

 names are too long and too hard to chestnut oak, probably a dozen kinds of 

 pronounce. Now let me show you my live oak, and even more kinds of scrub 

 new rose, Frau Kari Druschki." oak. Attempts have been made to 

 "My dear sir," I say, "not one scien- standardize the English names of our 

 tifie name in a thousand is as hard to trees, but it can't be done. Names are 

 spell or as hard to pronounce as Frau a part of our language, and a language 

 Kad Druschki, and all have three ad- can not be changed by law or procla- 

 vantages which you can never get by mation. Out around Lake Michigan is 

 using English names. First, they permit a rather rare species of oak, Ouercus 

 you to express your thoughts to stu- ellipsoidalis. Tlie Forest Service" says it 

 dents of plants in every country; sec- should be called jack oak, but every 

 ond, they enable you to specify a par- farmer who has it growing in his wood- 

 ticular kind of plant w^th far greater lot calls it black oak, and \ou can't get 

 accuracy than is possible with an Eng- him to change. Certainly you could 

 lish name; and third, the name itself never induce him to call it jack oak, be- 

 tells you a great deal about the plant, cause some millions of people in the 

 even though you have never seen it middle west use jack oak for Quercus 

 yourself.'' imbricaria, which the Forest "Service 

 TTie inaccuracy of English names says we must call shingle oak. You can 

 is proverbial. The word ivy properly be- invent new terms for new things, and 



