OUTLINES OF BOTANY. 
XXXVII 
we observe to spring, or from their close resemblance infer to have orig¬ 
inated, from a common stock, and which preserve their characteristics 
when propagated from seed. 
234. Varieties are casual or minor deviations from the common type 
of the species, not of sufficient moment or constancy to be at all incom¬ 
patible with the idea of a common origin, and not permanent from genera¬ 
tion to generation by seed, when left in a state of nature. Races are 
varieties which, under the long-continued influence of cultivation or do¬ 
mestication, have become so far fixed that they transmit their characteris¬ 
tics by seed, so long as carefully kept by themselves. Hybrids are 
crosses (usually sterile) between allied species. 
235. Genera, or kinds, are ideal assemblages of nearly related species 
viz. of those which, notwithstanding specific differences, agree with each 
other closely in structure and appearance. Thus, the different species of 
Hose constitute the genus Rosa ; and the Apple, Pear, Crab, &c., belong 
to a common genus, Pyrus. (A genus may indeed comprise but a single 
known species, if its characteristics are so peculiar that it cannot with 
propriety be deemed to belong to any recognized genus.) Subgenera 
are sections of genera so well marked in character that they have claims 
to rank as genera. For example, the genus Cimicifuga, p. 16, is made to 
comprise, in addition to the true Cimicifuga, the subgenus Macrotys ; and 
/ yrus, the Pear-genus (p. 129), includes the subgenera Malus (for the 
Apple and Crab-apples), Adenorachis (for the Chokeberry), and Sorbus (for 
what are called the Mountain-Ashes). v 
236. An indication of the particulars in which a genus differs from re¬ 
lated genera given in botanical language, constitutes the Generic Charac- 
ter. A similar enumeration of the points (characters) which serve for dis¬ 
tinguishing kindred species forms their Specific Characters . 
237. Each genus bears a fixed substantive generic name, of one word. 
„ r a "’P-fr° m £ 4 se 1-. Atragene, Clematis, Pulsatilla, Anemone, 
hepatica. Each species bears a specific name, of one word, usually an 
adjective, and in agreement with the generic name. Examp. Atragene 
Americana (American Atragene), Anemone nemorosa (Wood Anemone) 
A. cytindrica, A. Virgiviana, A. mnltijida, &c. The botanical name of a 
plant consists of the generic name followed by that of the species as in 
the examples just given. The generic name evidently answers to the 
surname and the specific to the baptismal name of a person. 
238. To express the various degrees of relationship among genera them¬ 
selves, and for convenience and precision in arrangement, those genera 
which are most alike are associated in higher groups, and these groups com¬ 
bined into fewer and still higher groups, with more comprehensive char¬ 
acters. and so on, until the highest generalization comprehends the whole 
kingdom (animal or vegetable). This series of divisions is more or less 
numerous according to circumstances; and the names of the divisions 
follow the subjoined sequence, beginning with the highest: — 
KINGDOM (Vegetable or Animal), 
Series, 
CLASS, 
Subclass, 
ORDER or Family, 
Suborder, 
Tribe, 
Subtribe, 
GENUS, 
Subgenus, 
SPECIES, 
. Varieties- 
a 
