
Five Conspicuous Plant Families. 
We find, much to our encouragement, that there are a few 
plant families with which we at once become familiar ; and their 
marked features impress us as those of unusual faces that have 
to be seen but once to be clearly remembered. The greater 
number of families, however, and their branches are not so read- 
ily known. The least little variation in a plant’s manner of 
growth will cause it to be separated from its relatives, even 
if it has to be regarded as a new species. 
The first Latin or Greek word of a plant’s scientific name is 
the name of its genus: its family name. The second word is 
an adjective that denotes its species and is usually significant 
of some characteristic or history with which it is connected. 
These names are too valuable to be overlooked, and as much 
as possible they should be memorised. The world over, a 
plant’s scientific name is the same, while the common English 
names often change not only with country, but with state and 
town. Following are a few traits of families that are among 
those most easily recognised : 
THE ARUM FAMILY. 
Aracee. 
Although one of the smallest in numbers, the arum family 
comprises some of our most quaint and interesting flowers. Its 
characteristics are strongly marked and its tastes appear to be 
most patrician. We may believe that it does not concern it- 
self about the fashions, as it makes no attempt to follow the 
