412 ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS. 



former indicating the genus and the latter the species. Sometimes, 

 in place of an adjective, there is a substantive used adjectively. 

 When a species is named in honour of its discoverer or describer, his 

 name is put in the genitive, as Carex Vahlii, or the species of the 

 genus Oarex detected by Vahl ; but if it is merely in compliment to 

 a botanist, his name is added in an adjective form, as Jungermannia 

 Doniana, or a Jungermannia named in honour of Don, as a botanist. 

 Sometimes two nouns are united in a specific name, as Dictamnus 

 Fraxinella. In such cases the specific name is often an old generic 

 one, has a capital letter prefixed, and does not necessarily agree in 

 gender with the name of the genus. The names of the orders in what 

 is called the natural system are derived from one of the typical genera 

 included under them. 



Abbreviations and Symbols. — It is of great importance that 

 correct descriptions should be given of species, for without them it is 

 impossible to form the groups accurately. The difficulties of the 

 taxonomist are often greatly increased by imperfect and careless de- 

 scriptipns. Valuable directions are given in Lindley's Introduction to 

 Botany, as to the proper method of describing plants. There are 

 certain abbreviations in constant use among botanists, which it may be 

 of importance to notice here. The authorities for genera and species 

 are given by adding the abbreviated name of the botanist who de- 

 scribed them. Thus, Veronica L. is the genus Veronica as defined by 

 Linnseus ; Veronica armnsis L. is a certain species of Veronica, defined 

 by the same author; Oxytropis DC. is the genus as defined by De 

 Candolle. It is usual in descriptive works to give a list of the 

 authors, and the symbols for their names. The abbreviation v. s. sp., 

 means vidi siccam spontaneam, or that the author has seen a dried wild 

 specimen of the plant ; v. s. c, means vidi siccam cultam, or that he 

 has seen a dried cultivated specimen ; v. v. s. means vidi mvam spon- 

 taneam, or that he has seen a living wild specimen ; while v. v. c, 

 means vidi vivcmi cultam, or that the author has seen a living culti- 

 vated specimen. The asterisk prefixed to a name (*L.) indicates that 

 there is a good description at the reference given to the work ; while 

 the dagger (tL.) implies some doubt or uncertainty. The point of 

 admiration (!DC.) marks that an authentic specimen has been seen, 

 from the author named ; and the point of interrogation (?) indicates 

 doubts as to the correctness of genus, species, etc., according as it is 

 placed after the name of the one or other. (symbol for the Sun), 

 O, ®, or A, annual ; cj (symbol for Mars) ; ©, ®, or B, biennial ; 

 1{. (symbol for Jupiter), A, or P, perennial; h (symbol for Saturn), 

 5, or Sh, shrub ; (, twming to the right ; ), twining to the left ; $ , 

 hermaphrodite; J, male; $ (symbol for Venus), female; i-$, 

 monoecious, or the male and female on one plant ; J : $ , dioecious, 

 or the male and female on difierent plants ; 00 or oo, means inde- 



