EXPLANATION OF TERMS. 



In cases where we do not give the generic name in italics, it is the samo 

 as the popular name. And where the family name is omitted, it is like the 

 popular name, in capitals, or is not thought of special importance, or has 

 been mentioned in describing the genus which belongs to it, "and there- 

 fore not necessary to be mentioned in the species under consideration. But 

 one species of a genus may be worthy of notice, in which case we have 

 given the popular, the specific, the generic, and family, or divisional 

 names. The varieties, in most cases, have not been mentioned, as they 

 are supposed to possess the same general properties as others of the spe- 

 cies. 



The generic name of plants, when not given as the popular name, is the 

 first of the scientific names in italics, which are the generic and specific 

 names together. Thus, for example, the Pea is the popular name of the 

 pea plant ; it is of the genus Pisum, of the species sativus, and of the fa- 

 mily or division of plants Leguminosce. The name of the natural family 

 is commenced with a capital and is not italicised. To avoid repetition, the 

 initial letter of the genus is placed before the species, as N. tabacum (Nico 

 liana) tabacum, &c. The clans, in the Linncean arrangement, is signified 

 by the letter (C.) and the figure following it denotes the number of the 

 class the plant belongs to. (O.) signifies the order, and the figures fol- 

 lowing it the number, or what order the plant is in. Sp. stands for species, 

 and the figure before or after it denotes the number of the species in the 

 genus ; and where two or more figures follow sp., and are divided, the first 

 one or two signifies the number of species which have been described or cul- 

 tivated ; and the second one or two is the number of species which are 

 known to belong to the genus. 



(D. u. s.) stands for Deciduous under shrub. (D. c.) stands for Decidu- 

 ous climber or creeper. (D. t.) for Deciduous twiner or trailer. (D. s.) 

 for Deciduous shrub. (D. t.) for Deciduous tree. (D. h.) for Deciduous 

 herb. 



