GENKRAL rJlINCIPLES. 9 



When a part or a property is not distinctly evolved, or is 

 not seen, we say that it is ohsoletus in consjj'i cutis. 



5. Smaller variations of form are expressed by diminutive 

 terminations; by the termination o'ides in Greek adjectives, 

 ot by tlie preposition sitb. This latter syllable particularly is 

 put before the word, where the property or organ is not 

 found every where in the same degree. We thus use the 

 phrase Jblium subdentatum, where the teeth in many positions 

 are not observable, or pass into the smooth margin. The ex- 

 pressions Jiirsutiuscidus, acutmsculus, oltusiuscidus, are also 

 frequently used ; as also are not imfrequently rhizdides, cdly- 

 coides. 



6. When the property is present in a higher degree, we com- 

 monly use the superlative ; by which means, all particles ex- 

 pressive of abundance, as, valde, maxime, msigniter, arc 

 avoided. We thus say, integerrimus, spinoswsinius, acidea- 

 tissimus, glaberriimis. 



7. The intermediate condition between two varying forms 

 is frequently expressed by the compounding of two adjec- 

 tives; thus, ohlongo-lanceolatus, 7'cpando-dentntiis^ palmato- 

 lohatus. But we fail in these compositions, when we put to- 

 gether words which exclude each other, which are co-ordinate, 

 and are therefore self-evident. Ell'ipticO'lanccolatus involves 

 a contradiction ; because the lanceolate-shaped leaf is pointed, 

 and the elliptical is symmetrically rounded at both ends, 

 Pubescenti-Jiirtdlus involves a contradiction, and, at the same 

 time, expresses subordinate ideas of the same class; because 

 hirius denotes long stiff hairs : Jiirtellus is therefore a non- 

 entity ; but pubescentt-Jiirtellus is self-evident, and jmbescejis 

 alone were sufficient. 



8. When we would express the reversed form of an organ, 

 we usually put the syllable ob before the adjective: thus, obt 

 ovatus, obcordatus, are very common. Obhuiccolaius can 

 scarcely be permitted, because the positive term spathidatus 

 is more definite. When an organ has the external shape of 

 another organ, without actually fulfilling the same purpose, 

 or even without having the same structure, we usually desig- 

 nate it as spuriuvi : we thus say,a7itherce spuria: of Tradescan- 



