126 



CLASSIFICA TION. 



[chap. 



arbitrary and of convenience,) may be referred to the same 

 genus^ and the same generic substantive name is employed 

 to designate them. Thus, we refer all the species of Balsam 

 to the genus Ivipailens, and of Fig to the genus Ficiis. In 

 this way we have genera (plural of genus) including often 

 many species, sometimes several hundreds ; we have others, 

 again, which include few or but single species. In the 

 latter case we have species whidi are necessarily compara- 

 tively isolated in the characters < 'f their flowers ; more so, 

 at least, than are the species of larger genera. 



Fig. 93. Leaf of iijPeepul 

 {Fiais religiosa). 



^IG. 94. Of India-rubber 

 Fig {F. elastica). 



Fig. 95. Of Banyan 

 (^F. benghale7isis]. 



3. Recollect, then, that in the scientific name of a plant 

 we always state both the name of the genus and that of the 

 species to which it belongs. The generic name precedes. 

 Thus Ficus henghalensis^ the Banyan, Ficus religiosa, the 

 Peepul, and Ficus elastica, the India-rubber tree, are three 

 distinct species of Fig familiar to every one in India ; and 

 although they resemble each other very closely in the struc- 

 ture of their flowers and seeds, yet inspection of a single 

 detached leaf will enable any one to distinguish them. The 

 brief characters which suffice to distinguish these species from 



