124 On Nomenclature. 



by stamina and pistilla. Both point out real natural distinc- 

 tions ; the characters of both ought to be stated in a descrip- 

 tion of a new plant ; but neither will serve as an index or 

 mark of affinity, or exact similarity and agreement in most 

 other respects. For example, all the British Ranunculacea? 

 belong to the Linnsean class Polyandria. They differ in their 

 number of pistilla, and are placed, accordingly, in different 

 subclasses or orders. All agree, indeed, in yielding a more or 

 less acrid juice, but differ remarkably in their modes of 

 growth ; as larkspur and Clematis, in their form of leaves 

 and of corollas ; and their localities, as larkspur and Caltha, 

 or marsh marigold. The arrangements of De Jussieu and 

 De Candolle, in their numerous subdivisions, exhibit in fuller 

 detail the peculiarities of orders and genera and species than 

 that of Linnaeus, and, therefore, have much extended botanical 

 knowledge. The object, however, of this essay is not to en- 

 quire into the general merits of each, but, with a much more 

 humble aim, to consider whether the latter might not be im- 

 proved by the adoption of names for all groups or divisions 

 of classes expressive of the differential or distinctive character 

 of each division. 



The first division of dicotyledonous plants is called Di- 

 chlamydeae. Perhaps D\ch\amyddta would be more correct. 

 The name duly suggests the presence of both calyx and 

 corolla. 



Of these there are two sections, clearly expressed by the 

 names polypetalous and monopetalous. 



Subsection 1. Some of the polypetalous have stamens hypo- 

 gynous, and ovaria more than one. 



Subsection 2. Some have but one ovarium to each blossom. 

 To subsection 1. belong some which possess stamens inde- 

 finite in number, which might be named order, or genus, 

 polyandrous or multistaminous. Some have stamina limited 

 in number, or make an oligandrous or paucistaminous order, 

 having many or few stamens. To the first belong the genus 

 Ranunculus, &c. ; to the second, in English Botany, the 

 genus Berberis and genus Epimedium. 



The specific name is like the patronymic name of a family. 

 The generic name suggests either the position in society, as 

 nobleman, labourer, lawyer, &c. : or the local connexion, as 

 Swedish, English, or a name of wider comprehension, or 

 more strict definition ; adding some farther description, as 

 Linnaeus, or Charles von Linne, Knight of Sweden, Uni- 

 versal Naturalist; or Edward Smith, F.R.S., London Bo- 

 tanist. 



To name an order, or any other division, from the trivial 



