68 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY 



a mere chaos of confusion, whose the Greeks that it began to hft its head, 

 mother was barbarity, whose father Generic names should not be mis- 

 dogmatism, and whose nurse preju- used in order to perpetuate the mem- 

 dice, ory of Saints and men distinguished in 



Only when plants have been classi- some other branch of learning, or to 



fied under genera, and not before, secure their favor. TTie man who has 



should names be assigned to them, in a later age obtained a glorious and 



Hence no names that have been as- honourable commemoration of his 



signed to plants must be adopted if name among posterity, has I maintain, 



they do not fit the genera. Where a obtained the highest honour that 



single genus is concerned, there shall mortal man can desire, 



be but one name. Generic names which have been 



Again the foundation of all classifi- bestowed without harm to Botany 



cation of plants depends on genera should, other things being equal, be 



and species: let those things which allowed to pass. A large number of 



agree in genus or species come under generic names were bestowed by the 



the same generic or specific name: and Fathers of Botany centuries ago, and 



let the converse of this rule hold. throughout the centuries have been 



Further it is required of the botanist accepted in common use. I think that 



that he should use judgment in assign- these names, so long familiar, should 



ing names, and not merely assign the be retained among botanists, 



first that occur to his mind. We do Those generic names are best which 



reverence to the omnipotence of the show the plant's essential character, or 



Creator, and to his sublime mysteries as its appearance: Helianthus, or "Flower 



discerned in plants: but we do not ad- of the Sun." Who can see this plant in 



mit those names which have a reli- flower without admiring the handsome 



gious significance. flower modeled on the sun's shape? 



All those plants which belong to A plant is completely named when 



one genus must be designated by the it is furnished with a generic and a 



same generic name. All those plants specific name. The specific name 



which agree in their method of fruit- should distinguish the plant from all 



ing should be united in one genus, others of the genus. Size does not dis- 



Generic names compounded of two en- tinguish a species. All plants growing 



tire Latin words are scarcely to be toler- in barren exhausted dry soil are smal- 



ated. Hybrid generic names, namely, ler. All plants in the Alps are small, 



those made from a Greek compounded Any comparative degree of size is er- 



with a Latin word, and the like are not roneous. Colour, varying as it does in 



to be recognized. Generic names which the same species, is strangely sportive: 



have not a root derived from Greek or hence it is of no value as a distinguish- 



Latin are to be rejected. Long ago the ing character. Hairiness is a distinguish- 



learned men of Europe met and chose ing character which may very easily 



the Latin language as the common Ian- become misleading, since it often dis- 



guage of learning. Few of the leading appears under cultivation, 



botanists, all of whom have, to their The position of the fruit aflfords the 



great credit, learned to speak Latin, best distinguishing character. The 



have departed from it, and in naming generic name should be attached to 



plants hardly any Greek generic names every species of the genus. The specific 



must inevitably be tolerated, since the should always follow the generic name, 



science of plants was first of all built up A specific name without a generic 



by the Greeks, or at least it was among name is like a bell without a clapper. 



