CHARACTERS. BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE. 3G3 



from all others of the class ; the generic character enumerates 

 those points which distinguish the plants of the genus in question 

 from all others of the same order or suborder ; the specific character 

 indicates the differences between species of the same genus ; — to 

 which in botanical works more or less of general description, accord- 

 ing to the plan and extent of the work, is generally added. 



709. A complete system of Botany will therefore comprise a 

 methodical distribution of plants according to their organization, 

 with their characters arranged in proper subordination ; so that the 

 investigation of any one particular species will bring to view, not 

 only its name (which separately considered is of little importance), 

 but also its plan of structure, both in general and in particular, its 

 relationships, essential qualities, and whole natural history. The 

 classification and the method of investigation in natural history con- 

 stitute not only the most complete arrangement known for the col- 

 location of a vast amount of facts, but also the best system of prac- 

 tical logic ; and the study exercises and sharpens at once both the 

 powers of reasoning and of observation, more, probably, than any 

 other pursuit. As a system for collocating facts for convenient ref- 

 erence, a great practical advantage of natural history is secured by 

 its happily devised 



710. Binomial Nomenclature. Since the time of Linnaeus, who in- 

 troduced the system, the scientific name of every plant is expressed 

 by two words, viz. by the name of its species appended to that of 

 its genus, each of a single word. That of the genus, i. e. the ge- 

 neric name, is a substantive ; that of the species, or the specific 

 name, is an adjective adjunct. The same name is never employed 

 for different genera ; the same specific name is not available for 

 more than one species of the same genus, but may be used in any 

 other genus. A few thousand names accordingly serve completely 

 to designate something like 8,000 genera and nearly 100,000 species 

 of plants, in a manner which obviates all confusion, and does not 

 greatly burden the memory. The generic name of a plant answers 

 to the surname of a person, as Brown or Jones ; the specific name 

 answers to the baptismal name, as John or James. Thus, Que reus 

 alba is the botanical appellation of the White Oak ; Quercus being 

 the substantive name for the genus, and alba (white) the adjec- 

 tive name for this particular species ; while the Red Oak is named 

 Quercus rubra ; the Scarlet Oak, Quercus coccinea ; the Live Oak, 

 Quercus virens ; the Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa ; and so on. 



