288 



REMARKS ON 



of that tribe; Sprengelia, to one distinguished for 

 illustrating the impregnation of plants, which the re- 

 markable form and union of its anthers serve to indi- 

 cate ; while Smithia sensitive, named by Mr. Dryander 

 in the Hortus Kewensis of our mutual friend Aiton, 

 could at that time be merited only by a treatise on the 

 Irritability of Plants*, to which the specific name 

 happily alludes. 



The generic name being fixed, the specific one is 

 next to be considered. Wkh respect to this, Rivirius 

 has the merit of originality, having been the first to 

 contrive naming each plant in two words. But his 

 names were meant for specific definitions, for which 

 they are totally inadequate. Linnaeus, in constructing 

 his more accurate and full specific characters, intended 

 the latter should serve as names, and therefore called 

 them nomina specified. When he, most fortunately 

 for the science and for the popularity of his whole 

 System of Nature, invented the present simple specific 

 names, he called them nomina trivialia, trivial, or for 

 common use; but that term, is now superfluous. 



Specific names should be formed on similar prin- 

 ciples to the generic ones; but some exceptions are 

 allowed, not only without inconvenience, but with great 

 advantage. Such as express the essential specific cha- 

 racter are unexceptionable, as Banksia serrata, inte- 

 grifoKa, dentata, &c. ; but perhaps those which ex- 



* Phil Trans, for 1788. 



