860 PHYTOGRAPHY. 



stantive instead of merely adjective names. But the former 

 should not be unnecessarily multiplied. 



738. The classical language of scientific botany being Latin, 

 all the organs of plants and their principal diversities are desig- 

 nated by a Latin or Latinized name. Modern languages have 

 also their own names and terms. Greatly to its advantage, 

 English botanical terminology has adopted and incorporated 

 terms from the Latin and Greek, with slight changes, not obscur- 

 ing the identity, thus securing all their precision, and rendering 

 the simple botanical Latin of descriptions of easy acquisition to 

 the English student. 



739. In a text-book like this, the principal names and terms 

 applied to organs and their leading modifications, as also those 

 which relate to their action (physiological terms) , or to our study 

 of them (didactic terms, such as phytography, phyllotax}', glos- 

 sology), are defined and illustrated in course. There remain 

 the more numerous and varied characteristic terms, chiefly adjec- 

 tives, applicable to more than one or to all organs, and which 

 compose the greater part of glossology. These, which DeCandolle 

 arranged systematically with much elaboration, may best be 

 reached by a glossary or dictionary, such as that at the end of this 

 volume, which comprises the substantive terms likewise. 



740. From characteristic adjective terms are derived the 

 greater number of specific names of plants ; of which, therefore, 

 the glossary ma}' elucidate the meaning. 



741. Capable as the existing system is, it cannot in single 

 words define all observed forms and grades, nor well avoid 

 various ambiguities of meaning. Some defects of the first kind 

 are remedied b}' combining with a Ir^phen two congruous terms 

 to denote an intermediate state. Ex. ovato-lanceolatus, or ovate- 

 lanceolate, for an outline between the two. Also a term may be 

 qualified by the prefix sub, in the sense of somewhat, as in sub- 

 rotundus, subcordatus (somewhat round or slight!}' heart-shaped), 

 or diminutives (such as integriusculus), or superlatives (integer- 

 rimits) or other strengthened forms (such as perangustus} may 

 be employed. Among terms of more than one form of meaning 

 are such as cah/cinus, which may mean, according to the context, 

 pertaining to the cal t yx, or of the appearance of calyx ; cymosus 

 may mean in c^mes, or bearing cymes, or in the manner of a 

 cyme ; and paleaceus may mean provided or beset with chaff, or 

 resembling chaff in texture. Often the form of the word should 

 distinguish the sense ; asfoliatits, furnished with leaves, foliosus, 

 with abundance of leaves, while foliareus may mean either bear- 

 ing leaves, or properly of leaf-like texture or appearance. 



