THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 345 
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PROPOSED NEW CLASSIFICATION AND 
NOMENCLATURE OF NARCISSUS. 
3). SHIRLEY HIBBERD has lately illustrated his ideas of botanical 
nomenclature by an arrangement of Narcissus. He has systematically 
opposed the custom of naming plants ‘‘commemoratively ” and “ geo- 
graphically,” contending that botanical names should be descriptive, so 
as to afford information as to the characters of the plants to which they 
are applied. In preparing his monograph on the ivies, he adopted the plan of pro- 
viding species and varieties with names su:zgestive of their more distinctive features ; 
thus Hedera Glymi, so named in honour of Mr. Glym, became Hedera tortuosa, 
its principal characteristic being a twisted leaf. The revision of Narcissus has been 
submitted to the Linnzan Society, and objected to, on the ground that names once 
adopted are never to be disturbed, that is to say, so far as this society is concerned 
there shall be no improvement in botanical nomenclature, although its absurdities 
move the laughter of the world. But common sense will prevail, and not even the 
Linnzan Society can bar the way, however anxious it may be to regulate the lan- 
guage of the world by a red-tape of its own. As regards its merits, Mr. Hibberd’s 
new nomenclature of Narcissus may be good, bad, or indifferent ; it is not for us to 
say ; but when it is declared that in scientific matters, the way of the Medes and 
Persians is to prevail, it is time to protest that knowledge grows from more 
to more. 
Mr. Hibberd arranges the Narcissi in three groups, those haying but one flower 
constitute group 1, Uniflos. Those with more than one, and less than six, group 2, 
Paucifiores. Those bearing more than six, group 3, Multiflores. The new names 
can only be appreciated by those who are familiar with the flowers, and therefore 
we shall not attempt in this summary to justify them byarguments. In the foliow- 
ing list the old names are in italics, and the new names in small capitals, and there 
follows in each case a garden name in English, which is the equivalent of the new 
botanical name proposed :— 
Group 1, Uniflos—Bulbocodium is catalogued as Corpuraria, the Basket 
narciss. Pseudo-narcissus has for its new name Fymprio-runatus, the Fringed- 
trumpet narciss. Incomparabilis is renamed Vastvormis, the Vase-shaped narciss. 
Group 2, Pauciflores—Poeticus becomes Annuuatus, the Ringed narciss. 
Calathinus is Rertexus, the Reflected narciss. Poculiformis retains its old name, 
Pocurtrormis, the Cup-shaped narciss. Macleai is renamed Cyriinpricvs, the 
cylinder narciss. Odorus is renamed GRAMINIFOLIUM, the Grass-leaved narciss, 
Juncifolius remains unaltered, save in form, Junctrozium. Dubius gives place to 
GavantTuores, the Snowdrop narciss. Gracilis is renamed (by the restorativn of 
an old name) AnausriroLius, the narrow-leaved narciss. Intermedia becomes 
November, 
