86 GENERIC RULES. 



when too short, must be lengthened, even when 

 personal. Lin. 249. The best names ought to 

 have 2 to 5 syllables, those of one or six are 

 objectionable. Thus Krascheninikofia and 

 Mesemhryanthemum^ must be changed to 

 Kranikoma and MesenbryantliMS. — While 

 Lea^ Neea, Zea must become Leania., Neeania, 

 Mayzea. Linneus changed Anapodophyllum 

 into Podophylum. 



41. Harsh and uncouth names must be soft- 

 ened and modified, upon the same plan. 

 Tournefort changed Gundelsheimera into 

 Gundelicis Tabernamontana and Lightfootia 

 must become Tabernaria and Lifatia. 



42. Some of the best botanical names are pa- 

 tronymic, or dedicated to botanists. But in- 

 stead of being the reward of merit, this practice 

 has been too much extended, by dedicating 

 them to mere Amateurs and Catalogue makers. 



43. These patronymic names must not be 

 formed of two names ; Gomortega and Carlu^ 

 dovica are become Adenostemum, Ltidovia. 



44. We may dedicate Genera also to emi- 

 nent Naturalists or Philosophers, great Travel- 

 lers, Horticultural ists and Protectors of Botany; 

 but never to mere friends or by flattery. Ex. 

 Fiircroya, Virgilia, Comptonia, Solomonia, 

 Clijfortia <^c. 



45. Names may also be borrowed from my 

 thology or ancient poetry, dedicated to Nymphs 

 or Legislators, Heros <Slc. Ex. Arethusa^ 

 Chironia^ Artemisia, Euphorbia,Calypso &.c. 



46. Ancient names of plants may be applied 

 to New Genera, nearly alike or related. Ex. 

 Datisca, Adike, Selepsion, Yerbena ^c. 



47. Genera must not bear the names of their 

 organs ; but flowers and fruits may bear the 



