HISTORY OF BOTANY. 73 



It is not imusual to apply the name of the first describer 

 of a species as a specific name (spelt of course with a capital 

 letter) in the possessive case, as Lepidium Smithii (Smith's 

 Cress) ; while a personal name with an adjective termination 

 is properly used as a specific name w^hen it is complimentary 

 only, as Carex Boenninghauseniana, which is one of the longest 

 botanical names I know. Such names are to be deprecated 

 (see Canon 29) as uncouth and inconvenient, " and it is 

 allowable to model them into grace as much as possible. 

 Thus the elegant Tournefort made Gundelia from Gundel- 

 scheimer, which induced me to choose Goodenia for my 

 much honoured and valued friend Dr. Goodenough, now 

 bishop of Carlisle, though it has when too late been 

 suggested that Goodenovia might have been preferable " 

 (Smith). This is in reference to generic names, but the 

 same principle applies to specific ones. 



The method of naming plants remains as it was 

 left by Linneus, with the exception of such few and 

 trifling variations from his rules as have been already 

 pointed out. It will therefore not be necessary to 

 pursue this sketch of the history of nomenclature 

 further. Most of our British ' Floras ' give the authority 

 for every new generic and specific name since Linneus. 

 An improved system of classification, on scientific and 

 comprehensive principles, occupied for a long time the 

 attention of botanists, and their labours have resulted in the 

 now universally adopted "Natural System"* as it is called. 

 Ray has been already mentioned as propounding the prin- 

 ciples on which it is based. The most important Natural 



••' Though a convenient and usual tenn this is a misnomer, as is 

 universally admitted, for aU the systems of classification are artificial. 

 It is not given to us to measure out creation, — we can but index it in an 

 imperfect manner. 



