66 BOTANY OF CROP PLANTS 



Descriptive Nature of Specific Names. — Specific names 

 are commonly descriptive. They may be descriptive of 

 (i) some plant character or habit, (2) habitat, or (3) dis- 

 tribution; and, in some instances (4) the species may bear 

 the name of an individual. By far the largest proportion 

 of specific names is descriptive of some striking habit or 

 character of the plant. For example, the trailing or pro- 

 cumbent Trifolium (clover) is Trifolium repens {repens, 

 creeping); the sweet clover with white flowers is Melilotus 

 alba {alba, white); the narrow-leafed crab-apple is Mains 

 angustifolia (angustus, narrow — folium, leaf). 



In Vitis riparia, the streamside grape, riparia is descrip- 

 tive of this species' habitat. The common black-cap rasp- 

 berry is Rubus occidentalis; here the specific name means 

 "western." Again, in Vaccinium canadense, the Canada 

 blueberry, the specific name indicates geographical distribu- 

 tion. The systematist frequently uses the name of an indi- 

 vidual for the specific name. This may be done as a token 

 of friendship, or recognition of distinction, or to indicate the 

 finder of the new form. For example, Prunus besseyi, is 

 after the well-known botanist, Charles Bessey. The i 

 ending is the Latin genitive, signifying "of Bessey." 



Scientific Name versus Common Name. — There are dis- 

 tinct advantages connected with the knowledge and use of 

 scientific names. Often the same species has many common 

 names. Again, several distinct species often may go by the 

 same common name. The use of one scientific name will do 

 away with much misunderstanding as to what plant is 

 actually referred to. 



General References 



Bailey, L. H.: The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. The Macmillan 



Co., 1914. 

 Baillon, H.: Histoire des plantes. Paris, 1894. 



