226 The Feex Lover's Cojipanion 



Note 

 The student should have some idea of the terms genus, 

 species and variely, although they are not capable of exact 

 definition. 



A species, or kind, is in botany the unit of classification. 

 It embraces all such indi^'iduals as may have originated in 

 a common stock. Such indi^"iduals bear an essential 

 resemblance to each other, as ^^•ell as to their common 

 parent in all their parts. E. ;/., the Cinnamon fern is a 

 kind or species of fern with the fronds e\"idently of one 

 kind, and of a common origin, and all producing indi^'iduals 

 of their own kind by their sjiores or rootstocks. When 

 such individuals differ perceptibly from the type in the 

 shape of the pinna?, or the cutting of the fronds, we have 

 varieties as froidbsum, inclsKvi, etc. Or if the difference 

 is less striking the word form is used instead of variety, 

 but in any given case opinions maj' dift'er in respect to the 

 more fitting term. 



A genus is an assemblage of sjjecies closely related to 

 each other, and ha^'ing more points of resemblance than 

 of difi'erence; e. g., the royal fern, the cinnamon fern, and 

 the interrupted fern are alike in having similar .spore cases 

 borne in a somewhat similar manner on the fronds, and 

 forming the genus Osmunda. In like manner certain 

 members of the clover group — red, white, yellow, etc., 

 make up the genus Trifolium. 



Thus indi^'iduals are groiiped into species and species 

 are associated into genera, and the two groups are united 

 to give each fern or plant its true name, the generic name 

 being qualified by that of the .species; as in the cinnamon 

 fern Osvu'mda (genus), cinnavioviea (species). 



