USE OF KNOWING PLANT NAMES 27*i 



Plant-names are thrown into the forms <>f the Latin 

 language. When plants first were studied seriously, 

 knowledge was preserved in Latin, and Latin Dames were 

 used for plants. The Latin form is now a pari of the 

 technical system of plant and animal nomenclature, and is 

 accepted in all countries; and the Latin Language i- as 

 good as any other. As in the Latin Language, all plant- 

 names have gender, and the termination of tin- word Is 

 usually different in each gender. The species-name must 

 agree with the genus-name in gender. Acer is neuter: so 

 i- .1. rubrum and A. nigrum, Quercus and Sambucus air 

 feminine: so are <). nigra and 8. nigra. Masculine, femi- 

 nine, and neuter endings are seen in Rubus sativus, Pasti- 

 naca sativa, Pisum sativum. "Sativus" means cultivated. 



Tin- name of a species nol only identifies the species, but 

 classifies it. Thus, it' a plan! i> named in the genus Acer, 

 it belongs to the maples ; it' it i> named in Fragaria, it 

 belongs t< the strawberries; if it is named in Pyrus, it is 

 allied to apples and pears; if it i- Helianthus, it is one of 

 thr sunflowers. 



USE OF KNOWING PLANT - NAMES. Tin- nam.- is an 



introduction t<> the plant, as it is to a person. It is an 

 index to its history and Literature. It euables as to think 

 and to speak aboul the plant with directness and pre- 

 cision. It brings as nearer to the plant and increases our 

 interesl in it. 



The name is a means, nol an end. Merelj to know the 

 name ia of Little use or satisfaction. Knowing tli<- name 

 should be onlj one step in knowing the plant. Of late 

 years, the determining of the names of plants lias own 

 discouraged as 8 school -exercise. This is bwause all in- 

 quiry Btopped when the name was secured. A name was d 

 stone wall when it should have been a gate. 



how to find out the NAMES OF PLANTS There can 

 be no short -cul to the names of plan!-, for names cannot 



