196 PROSERPINA. 



grounds on which I venture here to reject many of 

 the received names of plants ; and to substitute 

 others for them, relating to entirely different 

 attributes from those on which their present 

 nomenclature is confusedly edified. 



I have already in some measure given the reasons 

 for this change ; * but I feel that, for the sake 

 of those among my scholars who have laboriously 

 learned the accepted names, I ought now also to 

 explain its method more completely. 



2. I call the present system of nomenclature 

 confusedly edified, because it introduces, — without, 

 apparently, any consciousness of the inconsistency, 

 and certainly with no apology for it, — names founded 

 sometimes on the history of plants, sometimes on 

 their qualities, sometimes on their forms, sometimes 

 on their products, and sometimes on their poetical 

 associations. 



On their history — as ' Gentian ' from King Gen- 

 tius, and ' Funkia ' from Dr. Funk. 



On their qualities — as ' Scrophularia ' from its 

 (quite uncertified) use in scrofula. 



On their forms — as the ' Caryophylls ' from 

 having petals like husks of nuts. 



On their products — as ' Cocos nucifera ' from 

 its nuts. 



* See Introduction, pp. 5 — 8. 



