214 PROSERPINA. 



discrepancy and unbecomingness, the higher title ; 

 as ' Carduus Benedictus,' Holy Thistle. 



25. Among the gentes of flowers bearing girls' 

 names, the dominant one will be simply called 

 the Queen, ' Rosa Regina,' ' Rose the Queen ' 

 (the English wild rose) ; ' Clarissa Regina,' ' Cla- 

 rissa the Queen ' (Mountain Pink) ; ' Lucia Regina,' 

 ' Lucy the Queen ' (Spring Gentian), or in simpler 

 English, ' Lucy of Teesdale,' as ' Harry of Mon- 

 mouth.' The ruling flowers of groups which bear 

 names not yet accepted for names of girls, will 

 be called simply ' Domina,' or shortly ' Donna.' 

 ' Rubra domina ' (wild raspberry) : the wild straw- 

 berry, because of her use in heraldry, will bear 

 a name of her own, exceptional, ' Cora coronalis.' 



26. These main points being understood, and 

 concessions made, we may first arrange the greater 

 orders of land plants in a group of twelve, easily 

 remembered, and with very little forcing. There 

 must be some forcing always to get things into 

 quite easily tenable form, for Nature always has 

 her ins and outs. But it is curious how fitly and 

 frequently the number of twelve may be used 

 for memoria technica ; and in this instance the 

 Greek derivative names fall at once into harmony 

 with the most beautiful parts of Greek mythology, 

 leading on to early Christian tradition. 



