NATIVE WOODY PLANTS OF THE UNITED STATES 29 



use under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. To 

 avoid confusion, all important synonyms are included in the list in 

 their proper alphabetical order with a cross reference to the current 

 preferred name. The species in this list may readily be found, 

 therefore, no matter with what code or manual one may be most 

 familiar. 



It might be mentioned that synonyms often show relationships 

 otherwise hidden. As an example : Vitis helleri, the roundleaf grape, 

 was first described as a variety of V. rotundifolia, the muscadine 

 grape. In the synonymy under Vitis helleri one finds V. rotundi- 

 folia var. helleri, which indicates that V. helleri is close enough to 

 V. rotundifolia to have been considered a variety of it. Other ex- 

 amples could be cited to show the same thing, but this will suffice to 

 indicate that records of utilization by wildlife may often have been 

 applied, especially in earlier days, to both the original species and 

 its variety. Thus 28 species of birds are recorded as having eaten 

 V. rotundifolia. None is recorded for V. helleri. But that the bird- 

 stomach record should apply partially to the latter species, changed 

 recently from its varietal rank, is fairly certain. In examining plant 

 characterizations, particularly with respect to wildlife foods, tech- 

 nicians will do well to remember the possible interrelationships ex- 

 pressed in the synonymy. 



VERNACULAR NAMES OF PLANTS 



The problem of choosing vernacular names for species of plants 

 is a difficult one. The very old prejudice against the use of a Latin 

 name is as pronounced as ever, and technicians are universally faced 

 with the necessity of using a so-called "common name" in order to 

 be understood. And yet no exact or careful work can ever be done 

 unless a name is used that applies to one species of plant and no 

 other. The tremendous numbers of vernacular names of plants in 

 common use do not satisfy this requirement. If they could be stand- 

 ardized, as the names of birds have been so that there would be no 

 question of the identity implied by a name, there would be less 

 confusion. 



Very laudable attempts to standardize vernacular names have been 

 made, but we are still a great way from completeness. Not the least 

 reason for this is that no committee having the sanction of botanists 

 throughout the country has ever been organized to deal with the 

 matter. If the botanists of the United States were to deal with 

 common names somewhat after the ntanner in which the botanical 

 congresses have dealt with Latin nomenclature, perhaps in time 

 definite and complete understanding might be achieved. 



Standardized Plant Names (15} treats horticultural plants for 

 the most part. This and Sudworth's Checklist of the Forest Trees 

 of the United States (564) are the best attempts made so far to 

 choose standard vernacular names for woody plants. Although in 

 each there are names that could be much improved, yet by and large 

 the names presented in them have much to recommend them. Many 

 names of woody plants from these two sources have been used in 

 this publication. 



A great many names have been taken from Dayton's Important 

 Western Browse Plants (168}. The various manuals of the flora 



