The Trees of Wyoming. 69 



itself except that we must, as a people, agree upon the 

 most expressive, available name. Then we must learn to 

 know that tree and must apply no other name to it and 

 that name must be applied to no other tree. 



The names suggested in this bulletin are not original 

 with the writer but such are chosen from those in com- 

 mon use as have secured the approval of men who have 

 given much time and thought to this subject.* 



LATIN NAMES. The scientific names have a great 

 advantage in that only one name can properly be applied 

 to the plant in question and that the oldest one. By this 

 name the plant must be known the world over. Such a 

 name consists of two parts, the first or generic name 

 which, in a way, corresponds to a person's family name 

 and the second or specific name which points out a par- 

 ticular kind much as a given name points out a particular 

 person. To illustrate: The Pines belong to the genus 

 Pinus ; the Cotton woods are Populus. To point out a 

 particular kind (species) another word is added, as Pinus 

 flexilis (The Limber Pine) or Populus balsamifera (Balm 

 of Gilead). It is customary to add the name (or abbrevi- 

 ation of it) of the person who first describes the species 

 or brings the right generic and ppecifis name together. 

 Thus the two just given should be written Pinus flexilis 

 James, and Populus balsamifera Linn. 



Now these Latin names are not so difficult to learn 

 or to understand as most people imagine. They are in fact 

 more easily remembered than common names for they are 

 often descriptive of some character of the plant as may be 

 seen in those given above. 



*Mr. George B. Sudworth in the excellent bulletins ot the Division of Forestry, U. S. 

 Dept. of Agriculture is doing much to bring order out of the chaos ot common names. I am 

 glad to acknowledge my indebtedness to Bull. No. 17 of that Div. 



