THE NAME OF A PLANT. 69 



In very early spring, some of the grasses begin to put forth 

 their green leaves, which are soon succeeded by the culms, which 

 carry the flowers. In the northern States Poa an7iua is the first 

 to unfold its spikelets, and spread its flowers, which are soon 

 followed by Oryzopsis, Poa sylvestris, sweet vernal and meadow 

 foxtail. In central Michigan, these and perhaps a few more, 

 blossom in May, while June is as j^rofuse of grasses as it is of 

 roses. Quite a number flower in July, and some delay till 

 August and September. The annuals are usually late in flower- 

 ing, though some of the perennials are very late ; for instance 

 the Muhlenbergias, Andropogons and Chrysopogon nutans. 



The Name of a Plant consists of two words, first the generic 

 second the specific. These must have the Latin form. The gen- 

 eric name is substantive and singular, and very nearly answers to 

 the surname of a person ; the specific name is most generally an 

 adjective (rarely a noun), and agrees with the noun in gender 

 and number. The specific name is followed by a name or the 

 abbreviation of the name of the person who applied that name to 

 the plant under consideration. 



Latin names are often objected to by persons who cannot see 

 why the common English names will not answer every purpose. 

 But suppose the Germans and the French should say the same 

 thing of the 2ilants they described? German and French names 

 are not so easy for us as those in the Latin form. Those in Latin 

 are often short and easy, and have been adopted as the common 

 names, such as Dahlia, Crocus, Ixia, Orchis, and Iris. There is 

 certainly an objection to using such names as KraschenniniTcovia, 

 AndrzeiofsTcya, and Pleuroschismatyjnis, names which havo 

 actually been thrust onto plants. 



In the i;se of common names, many take the liberty of making 

 their own name, and then the same name is applied to more than 

 one plant. 



A certain well known tree in some parts of the L^nited States 



