IXTROWCTION. x j 



plants in honor of individuals, which, having nothing Latin about them except the terminal 

 form, and the pronunciation given to them by botanical authors being diverse, are here ac- 

 cented like the names of the persons, so far as euphony will permit. This rule is followed 

 because it is believed to agree with the prevailing usage among Wanists in ..rdinary speech; 

 because it is in accord with the commemorative object of such names, which ought Ml 

 obscured by a forced and unnatural pronunciation; and because the test applied to words 

 properly Latin, viz., the usage of the Latin poets, cannot be applied to words of this "Jm 

 We therefore give T6rreyi, Vaseyi, Cdreyi, Jamesii, Alleni, rather than Torreyi, Vaseyi, 

 Careyi, Jamesii, Alleni. 



The acute accent is used to denote the short English sound only; as in bdt 061, 



nut; the grave accent, to denote either of the other English sounds, whcth. md or 



open; as a in bale, ball, bar, bare, laud; e in eve, there; i in pine, pique, machine; <> m note. 

 move; 11 in pure, rude. The accent for the short or longer English sound is based upon carl 

 rent English usage, as given in the chief English dictionaries from Walker's to the most re- 

 cent, and without reference to the supposed ancient pronunciation. 



Much diversity has been found in botanical works in the accented syllable of many mod- 

 ern Latin adjectives ending in -inus, -ina, -inum, derived from Latin words. As thf 

 adjectives are derived from Latin roots and are regularly formed, their pronunciation should 

 properly follow classical analogies. When signifying, or referring to, time, material, or in- 

 animate substances, they should, therefore, according to Andrew- ,\ M<xldard'srule, have the 

 penult usually short, and the accent on the antepenult; as in gossipina, cannabina, secalina. 

 salicina, amygddlina, and other adjectives derived from plant names, like the classic nard- 

 inus, cyprinus, fdginus. When these adjectives have other significations than those above 

 referred to, the penult under the ordinary Latin rule is usually long and accented; as in 

 lupulina, leporina, hystricina, like the classic ursina, canina. 



The Use of Capital Letters. 



In accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Nomenclature of the 

 Botanical Clnb of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, specific or var- 

 ietal names derived from persons or places, or used as the genitive of generic names or as 

 substantives, are printed with an initial capital letter. There is much difference of opinion 

 as to the desirability of this practice, many botanists, and almost all zoologists, following 

 the principle of writing all specific names with a small initial letter. Should this custom pre- 

 vail, much information concerning the history and significance of the specific names would 

 be lost. Thus in the Tulip-tree, Liriodendron Tulip if era, the specific name Tttlipiffr* was 

 the ancient generic name; and the same with Lythrum Salicaria, L. Hyssopifolia. L. /"/- 

 neraria, and many other species. In all other forms of writing, personal adjectives such as 

 Nuttallii, Engelmanni or Torreyi are printed with capitals. We adhere to the ordinary 

 literary usage. 



Varieties 



are printed as trinomials, e. g., Rynchospora glomerata paniculata, the contraction var. or 

 the Greek letters a or J commonly inserted between the specific and varietal name bring 

 dispensed with. The comma sometimes placed between the specific or varietal name and 

 the name of the author is omitted, in accordance with the opinions of the same committee. 



Assistance. 



Cordial acknowledgment for assistance and advice is hereby tendered to Professor Thomas 

 C. Porter, who has continuously, from the inception of the enterprise, cooperate' 

 cution by suggestion, information and the contribution of specimens, and who has rea 

 the proofs; to Mr. Eugene P. Bicknell, who has supplied manv ftpecfaMMttd rea 

 sheets; to Professor Lucien M. Underwood, for the text of the Pteridophyta 

 V. Coville, for the text of the Juncaceae; to Dr. John K. Small, for tin 

 and Euphorbiaceae, and for assistance and critical notes on n. \am\\\< 



V. Nash, for the text of the Gramineae; to Professor 1-. Latnson-Scribner, 

 drawings of Gramineae, and for manuscript notes on many genera and sped 

 to Mr. Arthur Rollick, for supervision of the drawings; to Mr. 

 for the text of Lemnaceae; to Mr. Charles K. Smith, for cntu al exaa 

 proof-sheets, and to many others who by the contribution of sped 

 tated the production of the work. 



