224 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [SEPTEMBER 
ing a Latin diagnosis of new genera and species was voted down Monday 
afternoon, along with several other motions of a general nature.. The 
question was discussed, however, at a later time when considering a motion 
by the paleobotanists, to the effect that a diagnosis be required only in one 
of the following languages: French, English, German, or Italian. This 
discussion broadened into a general one, and although it was defeated the 
discussion showed that there was a strong sentiment against the Latin 
requirement, especially on the part of the American botanists, and the 
subject will probably be brought up-again for discussion at the next 
congress. : 
With reference to the question of nomenclature in phytogeography ’ 
the following principles were adopted, and the commission, considera ly 
arged, was continued. — 
1. Nomenclature is to be avoided, and the expression terminology 
is rather to be employed. 
2. When technical words are employed, a clear definition of them should 
be given in the sense in which the writer uses them, and also where a ter™ 
is used in a sense different from that in which it has formerly been employed. 
3. It is recommended to use terms taken from living (vulgar) languages 
to designate associations, etc., and reserve expressions of Greek or i 
origin for higher units, where there are rarely equivalents in the living 
tongues (examples: mesophytic, hydrophytic, etc.). 
4. The principle of priority has no legal value in phytogeography 
Terminology is very different from nomenclature, and must be subject to 
change in order to bring it in harmony with the change of ideas in the me 
pretation of facts. 
5. A recommendation for the establishment of clear phytogeogt@ 
maps was adopted. 
6. Definition of ecology: Phytogeographical ecology is th 1 
plants and plant associations in their relations with the medium (surroun 
ing medium or environmental conditions). Ayre: 
7. Without giving a definition of the words formation and enero: 
the section recommends the use of “formation” in a wider ecological oa 
and “association” in a more restricted, floristic sense. For —s 
meadow, prairie, etc., are formations; but an alpine meadow 0? grant 
soil in central Switzerland is an association. 
8. It was decided to publish a dictionary of phytogeographic hic 
nology, containing all the pertinent expressions used in phytogeogt™P fer- 
and floristic works, with the original definitions and bibliographical T° 
ences, and their equivalents in English, French, and German. 
phical 
e study of 
termi- 
