160 TALKS AFIELD. 



ory. The names of varieties are made after 

 the same pattern as the names of species : 

 Viola cucuUata var. palmata represents a 

 palmate-leaved variety of our common hooded 

 violet. 



A Chapter on Plant Names. 



There are other associations than those 

 of verdant fields and woods and fragrant 

 flowers connected with the names of plants : 

 there are attractive bits of history, interest- 

 ing reminiscences, or curious tangles of ety- 

 mology. Many of the scientific names of 

 plants can be traced back to the earliest pe- 

 riods of history, from whence they have de- 

 scended through the centuries by irregular 

 paths, now applied to one object, now to 

 another, now receiving some impression of 

 popular notions or superstitions, at times 

 lost sight of altogether, and as often resur- 

 rected in a new guise, perhaps, until finally 

 they have been rescued by the modern scien- 

 tist and stereotyped in ponderous Latin. 

 The common names of plants have for the 

 most part even more intricate histories, for 

 they have been indelibly associated with the 

 every-day speech of the common people. 

 Their origin is often lost in the mists of an- 



