FOR FORMS AND QUALITIES. 13 



decimetre is three inches and something more than eight Unes ; 

 the centimetre four Unes and a half; and the millimetre ex- 

 actly xV/o) o^ about half a line. This measure is not adopt- 

 ed by any other nation. 



18. 



The relative measure is taken by comparison with other 

 parts of the same plant. We say cequalis or cequans, major, 

 minor, longior, brevior, duplo, triplo major or minor. We 

 say also sicperanSy excidens^ ceqnans. 



19. 



We also frequently assume the relative size and extension; 

 from comparison, but without always naming the compared 

 parts. We thus name Calyx maximus, a calyx which, in 

 proportion to all the other parts of the plants, is very large. 

 We also usually say, rami, or peduncuU elongati, petioli bre-^ 

 vissimi or abbreviati, stipula minima, folia angnstissima, 

 calyx ampliatus, planta pusilla ov pumila, arbor gigantea : 

 by which expressions every one knows what he is to under-, 

 stand. 



The relative measure of the parts of one and the same or» 

 gan, determines their regularity or equality. 



The parts of an organ are equal (aqualis), when they have 

 throughout the same measure and the same form. Inequality 

 (imequalifas), expresses the reverse. Like, {confirmis, simi- 

 lis), relates only to the correspondence of form ; unlike, (dis^ 

 similis, and in Greek compounds lietero), signifies the oppo- 

 site quality. Variable, {varius, variabilis, mutabilis), relates 

 to the disposition of an organ readily to change its form. 



An organ is called regular (regularis) the parts of 

 which shew a certain correspondence, but not a complete simi- 

 larity, of parts in size and form ; as when, for instance, larger 

 parts are interchanged widi those that are smaller. The 

 structure of an organ, again, is irregidar, when no corre- 

 .spondcnce of pari?, either in shape or size, is observable. 



