50 THE NAMES OF PXANTS. 



itself through its seeds, but relapses into the original form, or changes 

 to another variety, whereas the characters on which the "species" is 

 founded never vary ; the dahlia is still a dahlia, whatever its hue, and 

 whether It be a " globe " or a " quilled." No rule can be laid down 

 for discriminating at all times between a species and a mere variety, 

 since to do so is possible only to experience ; and not always then, 

 for the definition of a " species" is not yet determined, and varieties 

 are continually detected walking through the fences set up by rule 

 and line systematists. The principal varieties occurring among our 

 wild plants are those of colour of floioer, many that are ordinarily red 

 or blue bein^ sometimes white, and the white ones occasionally blush- 

 ing. The next largest class comprehends the varieties induced by 

 growth in water. The leaves of plants which on the edges of a pond 

 or stream are broad and flat, often, when wholly submerged, and 

 especially if subjected to a current, lengthen into long, green hair-like 

 fibres that remind us of some sea-weeds. 



THE NAMES OF PLANTS. 



In conclusion, we may say a few words on the names of plants, which 

 are both "popular" and Latin, or "botanical." The popular name is 

 that by which a plant is commonly called in the country or district 

 where it grows wild ; it difiers, as a matter of course, in different 

 places, the daisy, for instance, being called "gowans" in Scotland, 

 and " marguerite " in France ; and here we see at once why a uniform 

 system of Latin names becomes absolutely necessary. Without them, 

 botanists at a distance could not possibly understand one another. 

 The Latin names have in no case been given out of pedantry, but to 

 facilitate the communications of those interested in the objects that 

 bear them. Nothing can be simjjlcr than the principle on which 

 they are constructed, the plan of the Latin being precisely the same 

 as that of the English. Certainly, in some instances the English 

 names are single, as primrose, cowslip, and dafibdil ; but the majority 

 are twofold, as sweet-pea, field-pea, everlasting-pea. "Pea" is here 

 the "generic" name, and the adjectives are the "specific" names, 

 and in either case exactly illustrate the nature of the Latin names, 

 which arc also "generic" and "specific." For instance, Lathyrus 

 latifollus, or the "broad-leaved pea;" Lathykus odoratus, or the 

 " sweet-scented pea; " Latiiyuus aztireus, or the "blue-flowered pea." 

 The Latin names, like the English, always mea7t something, and are 



