NOMENCLATURE. 169 



regincv, and vice versa. Where a plant is known to be of hybrid 

 origin, it is a good plan to indicate the fact by prefixing x to 

 the name. 



The nomenclature of the groups above genera is of less import- 

 ance than that of genera and species, and is dealt with more 

 independently by individual writers. Artificial groups are gene- 

 rally named from the character on which they are founded, as in 

 the case of the Linnean classes and orders. The same is the case 

 with the artificial divisions which are used in most Natural Ar- 

 rangements for conveniently subdividing large assemblages of 

 Families or Orders, such as Tkalamiflorce &c. of De Candolle, Poly- 

 petalce &c. of Jussieu. But as the essence of the Natural Ar- 

 rangement of plants lies in the combination of forms according 

 to the majority and importance of points of likeness or general 

 character, we are not necessarily restricted by any definite character 

 in the selection of the name ; and in regard to the Natural Orders, 

 great diversity of principle has prevailed in the application of the 

 names, and even considerable latitude in the form given to them. 

 There exists, however, one rule applied in all Latin naming of what 

 are termed Natural Orders : the word plantce is understood, and an 

 adjective name agreeing with this represents the group. In exist- 

 ing systems we find these adjective names founded sometimes on 

 a prevalent character in the family, as (plantse) Leguminosae, 

 Coniferae, UinbelliferaB, &c. ; sometimes on the names of typical 

 genera, as Eosaceaa, Solanaceaa, Convobulaceae ; sometimes on an 

 existing general name derived from common language, as Granii- 

 naceae and Palmaceae. A difference of termination exists even in 

 regard to the same word in different authors : thus, one author 

 writes Cistineae, another Cistacese, with the same meaning ; while 

 others use the word Aroideae in preference to Araceae. or Palmae in 

 preference to Palmaceae. 



Attempts have been made to reduce all these names to a system, and 

 to preserve the same form of termination for groups of the same value. 

 Thus it is proposed to make the names of all Orders end in aceee, like 

 Ranunculaceae, Ericaceae, &c., the only objection to which is the necessity 

 of discarding many familiar and well-established names, and replacing 

 them by strange ones, as Apiaceae for Umhelliferae, Fabacese for Legumi- 

 nosae, &c. " Classes " or fl Alliances " again are made alike by using the 

 terminal form -ales : as Glumales, instead of Glumaceae or Glumiferse, 

 for the group composed of the Orders with a glurnaceous perianth, &c. 



A fixed rule does exist among all modern writers in the denomi- 

 nation of suborders or tribes into which Orders are divided ; for 

 these are founded on typical genera, the names of which are made 

 to furnish adjectives by the substitution of ece for the last vowel 

 and whatever may follow it : for example, in the Order of the 



