HOW TO KNOW THE WILD FLOWEE3. 89 



In the scientific name of a plant, the first word in- 

 dicates the genus, the second one the species. Each par- 

 ticular kind of plant is called a species, and each species 

 is reproduced from seed, sometimes, indeed, varied 

 by soil and culture. Many species closely resemble 

 each other in general structure, as the pansy and the 

 violet, but with the differences well marked. In others 

 the species are numerous, as the hawkbits, willows, 

 sedges ; and the ordinary observer is content to know 

 the species only. In a popular book, to attempt to 

 describe these minute differences would be futile, and 

 the scientific student must turn to less elementary 

 books. The scientific names are sometimes arbitrary, 

 but generally they are given with a view of showing 

 some peculiarity in the plant, or of its history. Thus 

 the humble Linncea was named after the great botanist, 

 because it was long overlooked, and flowers at an early 

 age. Many of the names tell of ancient mythology, 

 others of the properties or dwelling of the plant. Thus 

 the everlasting flower is amarantha without decay; 

 the sunflower is helianthus. If it dwells in the 

 meadows it is distinguished by the special name of 

 pratensis, as Poa pratensis is grass of the meadow ; 

 arvensis tells of the cultivated field ; rupestre of the 



