\(y2 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



148. The importance of Latin binomial names. — Practioal 



workers in a^riciill iirc and liorl icult iii-c ai'c sometimes eon- 

 temptuous of Latin iiaiiics under llic hclict' thai they are need- 

 lessly pedantie. Tliere are, however, several advantajj:es in Latin 

 binomials as plant names. Speeies often have many common 

 names to the great eonf usion of those who seek to know them ; 

 there can be but one accepted binomial name. It is best that the 

 name be Latinized as Latin has for centuries been the commonest 

 lang:uage used by botanists and other biologists. The Latin 

 name is, therefore, most common to many different languages. 



There is a third great advantage in the specific name in the 

 binomial; it is usually descriptive and so imparts information. 

 The specific name may describe some character; as Prunus 

 pumila (dw^arf plum). It may indicate distribution of the 

 species; as P. americana (American plum). It may show what 

 a former generic name was; as P. Mahaleh (]\Iahaleb cherry); 

 or it may commemorate the name of a friend or fellow worker 

 as in P. Munsonianw (Munson's plum). Very often the name 

 suggests the habitat of a species as P. rnaritima (seaside plum). 



