HISTORY OF BOTANY. 71 



family), and Gramina (grasses) is more convenient and 

 euphonious than Graminacese (grass family : see Canon 28). 



We will consider now the second name which is given to 

 plants. The first is called the substantive, or generic name, 

 and the second the trivial, or specific name. It serves to 

 point out the particular species of each genus, as generic 

 names make separate divisions of an order, and they are 

 governed to a great extent by the rules already cited, but 

 being of less consequence greater latitude is tolerated. As 

 might be expected there is every shade of merit to be found 

 in these names ; they are good, bad, and indifi'erent. First, 

 we apply the four comers of heaven — north, south, east and 

 west, or borealis, australis, orientalis, and occidentalis ; or 

 the names of countries — as European, Asian, African, 

 American, europaeus, asiaticus, africanus, americanus; or 

 the names of countries— as English, Welsh, Scotch, Irish, 

 French, German, auglicus, cambricus, scoticus, hibernicus, 

 gallicus, germanicus, &c. ; or still again in reference to pai'- 

 ticular places — as monensis, belonging to the Isle of Man ; 

 lancastriensis, to Lancaster; tunbridgensis, to Tunbridge 

 Wells ; cornubiensis, to Cornwall, &c. As this class of names 

 becomes more particular it becomes of less value, for it rarely 

 happens that a plant is confined to one particular habitat. 



Those names that point out a decided specific character 

 are the best; as Arenaria trinervis (with three-nerved 

 leaves), Chlora perfohata (stems perfoliate), Epipactis 

 ensifolia (leaves sword- shaped), grandiflora (large flowers), 

 latifolia (broad leaves), &c. Then there are comparative 

 names that are also good ; as Sagittaria sagittifolia (arrow- 

 shaped leaves), Ranunculus hederaceus (ivy-like), Rubus 

 corylifolius (hazel-leaved). Next we have names that indi- 

 cate some particular habit of a plant; as Scilla nutans 

 (nodding, in allusion to the flowers), Potamogeton natans 



