DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS. 179 



more, racemose ; corolla turbinate-campanulate. Stem 6-12 inches high. 

 Radical leaves soon vanishing j corolla blue ; calyx-segments linear- 

 subulate." 



This example further illustrates the method of giving a diagnosis at the 

 same time, by italicizing the characters by which the species is distin- 

 guished from its nearest allies ; it also shows the manner in which expla- 

 natory or descriptive notices are added in a supplementary paragraph to 

 the essential specific character. 



Lastly, if we have to deal with a limited number of species, such 

 as the British Bell-flowers, to which we have just referred, we 

 may, for simple purposes of distinction, construct a diagnostic 

 table, like that above given for the genera of Campanulacese. 



Flowers sessile, in terminal or axillary clusters ; cap- 

 sule sessile, erect, with the pores at the base . . C. glomerata. 

 Flowers in racemes or panicles ; capsule stalked. 

 Capsule nodding, with the pores at the base. 

 Flowers in a unilateral raceme, segments of 



calyx ultimately reflexed C. rapunculoides. 



Flowers racemose, segments of calyx always 

 erect. 



Peduncles 1-flowered C. latifolia. 



Peduncles 2-3-flowered C. Trachelium. 



Flowers on long slender stalks, solitary, or in 



a lax few-flowered corymbose raceme . . C. rotundifolia. 

 Capsule erect, with the pores just below the 

 segments of the calyx. 



Segments of the calyx entire. 



Segments of the calyx lanceolate; raceme 



few-flowered, or flower solitary . . C. persicifolia. 

 Segments of the calyx awl-shaped ; flowers 



in an erect racemose panicle .... (7. Rapunculus. 

 Segments of the calyx toothed at the base j 



flowers panicled, erect, on long stalks . C. patula. 



A few of the general rules observed in writing descriptions of 

 plants may be mentioned here, as explanatory of certain techni- 

 calities which will be met with in systematic works. 



The generic name is always commenced with a capital letter, 

 while that of the species is usually written small : but we find in 

 most books a capital letter to the specific name, 1, where this name 

 is the appellation of another existing or suppressed genus used ad- 

 jectively, as Agrimonia Eupatorium, Mentha Palegium, &c. ; 2, where 

 the specific name is formed from a proper name, either as the 

 genitive case of a substantive or in the adjective form, as in Scirpus 

 Savii and Carex Davalliana. Specific names derived from coun- 

 tries are now usually written small, as /Silene anglica. 



When a generic character is written in Latin, the descriptions 

 of the organs are all put in the nominative case ; in a specific cha- 

 racter they are put in the ablative. 



w 2 



