GLOSSARY OF LATIN SPECIFIC TERMS 



THE scientific name of a plant consists of two Latin 

 words. The first names the genus and is a noun ; the 

 second which indicates the species is an adjective. If 

 there is a second adjective it indicates a variety. 



The names of the genera often emphasize a charac- 

 ter belonging to the entire plant-group, are frequently 

 ancient, sometimes fanciful, and now and then immor- 

 talize a man's name. 



The specific terms are intended to point out some 

 distinctive peculiarity of the plant. These are all in 

 Latin form ; in the main they consist of correct or cor- 

 rupted Latin adjectives, Greek derivatives, and Latin- 

 ized proper names. The endings of course vary with 

 the gender of the generic noun. If a surname is used 

 to designate a species it is usually put into the geni- 

 tive case. 



acerifolium maple-leaved. alternifolia alternate-leaved, 



acuminate pointed. americanus-a-um American, 



adenophylla furry-leaved. amomum referring to the acrid 



adpressed pressed together. seeds of the plant. A name of 



alba white. an East Indian genus, 



allegheniensis growing in the Al- amygdalus almond. 



leghanies. angustifolia narrow-leaved, 



alnifolia-um alder-leaved. apiifolia celery-leaved, 



alnobetula alder-birch. aquifolium holly-leaved, 



alpina alpine. arborescens tree-like. 



507 



