322 THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS 



shape, size and habit of their vegetative organs, are nevertheless 

 very similar in the construction and form of their flowers. 

 Species possessing such close resemblances in the structure 

 and arrangement of their reproductive organs are grouped to- 

 gether and are spoken of as a genus. 



The scientific or botanical name of a plant consists of two 

 Latin words, the first of which indicates the genus and the second 

 the species to which the plant belongs. For example, the true 

 clovers constitute the genus Trifolium, the species red clover 

 being named Trifolium pratense, while Alsike clover is known 

 as Trifolium hybridum. Similarly the various species of butter- 

 cups collectively form the genus Ranunculus, two common species 

 of the genus being Ranunculus repens (creeping crowfoot) and 

 Ranunculus bulbosus (bulbous buttercup). 



As the same species has sometimes been named differently by 

 different botanists and the same name has not uncommonly 

 been used for two or more distinct species, to prevent confusion 

 it is customary in systematic works to add to the name of the 

 plant the full or abbreviated name of the botanist who gave the 

 plant its name and described it. 



For example, the name Bellis perennis Linn, or Bellis perennis 

 L., indicates that Linnseus gave the name and it also implies 

 that the plant denoted is the particular species which Linnseus 

 described under this name. 



Just as species are grouped into genera, so are genera re- 

 sembling each other grouped into Orders or Families. 



Orders possessing similar characters form Classes, and classes 

 having common distinctive characters are finally grouped together 

 into Divisions. 



Where some of the representatives of a Genus, Order, Class 

 or Division possess characters which mark them off more or 

 less distinctly from the rest of the group to which they belong, 

 it is sometimes useful to subdivide these groups into Sub-genera, 

 Sub-orders, Sub-classes and Sub-divisions. 



