SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



NAMES OF PLANTS: CLASSIFICATION. 



In a general way we designate the objects around us by single names. We speak 

 of a stone, a wolf, or a pine; but to distinguish the kinds we naturally use two names, 

 as lime stone, sand stone; grey wolf, prairie wolf; nut pine, yellow pine, etc. This is 

 one step in classification, and the only one commonly taken. This natural plan of 

 double names was adopted by the great naturalist, Linnseus, who gave names to most 

 European plants, as well as to many of this continent. He wisely gave the Latin form 

 to his names, since that language (being the base of most languages spoken in civilized 

 countries) is the natural source of cosmopolitan names those truly common to all 

 people. Botanical names, then, differ from so-called common names principally iu 

 form, and they have these decided advantages: they more exactly represent the rela- 

 tions between kinds of plants, and they are names that are common to people of all 

 languages. In short, they are the true common names. 



It is not true that botanical names are harder than local names. The most com- 

 mon of our ornamental plants are well known by their scientific names. No one thinks 

 of calling the following botanical names hard: Geranium, Aster, Verbena, Petunia, 

 Portulaca, Crocus, Phlox, Fuchsia, Iris, Magnolia, Oxalis, Azalea, Dahlia, Lobelia, 

 Arnica, etc. Most people talk familiarly of Camellias, Callas, Begonias, Acacias, etc.; 

 while our beautiful California plants, Clarkia, Collinsia, Eschscholtzia, Nemophila, etc., 

 are well known by their proper names at least, in other countries. 



Generic names correspond to the second parts of the compound common names, as 

 oak, pine, rose, etc. Some of these are the old Greek or Latin names of the plant. 

 Most generic names are either derived from Greek or Latin words descriptive of some 

 peculiarity of the plant, or they are commemorative of some botanist, as Thysanocarpus, 

 from Greek words meaning fringe and pod; Kelloggia, in honor of Dr. A. Kellogg, a 

 veteran botanist of this coast. Sometimes genera are named in honor of those who are 

 not botanists, as Fremontia, Hollisteria, Stanfordia, etc. 



It will be seen that in the examples given a generic name in honor of a man is 

 formed by adding "ia" to his name. Sometimes "a" only is added, asBolaudra. 



Specific names correspond to the first part of common names, but are written 

 after the generic names. Thus Oregon Oxalis is labeled Oxalis Oregona. Most specific 

 names are descriptive, as Gilia tricolor, Tricolored Gilia. Frequently a species is n^med 

 for the discoverer, as Eriogonum Nortoni, Norton's Eriogonum; or in honor of some one, 



