216 Nomenclature. 



the singular number, and mostly of Greek or Latin derivat 

 Those which were known to the ancients generally p res ,' 

 their classical appellations ; as Fagus, Prunus, Myrtus Vi l 

 &c; and even the barbarous or vulgar names of plants ' 

 often adopted, when susceptible of a Latin termination a A 

 not too uncouth ; for example, Thaa and Cojfcea, for the T 

 and Coffee plants, Bambusa for the Bamboo, Yucca, Negund 

 &c. But more commonly, generic names are formed to e ' 

 press some botanical character, habit, or obvious peculiarity f 

 the plants they designate ; such as Arenaria, from arena, sand 

 for a plant which grows in sandy places ; Dentaria, from dens 

 a tooth, for a plant with toothed roots ; Lunaria, from luna, the 

 moon, for one with crescent-shaped pods ; Sanguinaria, from 

 sanguis, blood, for the Blood-root; Crassula, from crassus, thick 

 for some plants with remarkably thick leaves. These are 

 instances of Latin derivatives ; but recourse is more commonly 

 had to the Greek language, especially for generic names com- 

 posed of two words; such as Menispermum, or Moon-seed* 

 Lilkospermum, for a plant with stony seeds ; Melanthium, mean- 

 ing black flower, for a genus whose flowers turn of a black or 

 dusky color ; Epidendron f upon a tree, for Orchideous plants 

 which grow upon trees ; Liriodendron, lily, or tulip, tree, for a 

 tree which bears lily-shaped flowers. Genera are also dedi- 

 cated to distinguished persons, a practice commenced by the 

 ancients ; as in the case of Paonia, the Peony, which bears 

 the name of Paeon, who is said to have employed the plant in 

 medicine ; and Euphorbia, Artemisia and Asclepias, are also 

 examples of the kind. Modern names of this kind are given in 

 commemoration of botanists, or of persons who have contri- 

 buted to the advancement of natural history. Magnolia, Big- 

 nonia, Lobelia, and Lonicera, dedicated to Magnol, Bignon, 

 Lobel, and Lonicer, are early instances of the practice ; Lin- 

 naea, Tournefortia, Jussiaea, Gronovia, &c, bear the names 

 of more celebrated botanists ; and at the present day, almost 

 every devotee or patron of the science is thus commemorated. 

 The names of species, as a general rule, are adjectives, 

 written after those of the genera, and established on similar 

 principles ; as Magnolia grandijlora, the Large-flowered Mag- 

 nolia j M. macropkyllaj the Large-leaved Magnolia ; Bignonia 



