Bach kind of plant and animal has ■ name I of two woi 



indicated in the above paragraph. The first name, always spelled 



With a capital letter, is the generic name or the genus, tin tme, 



always spelled with a small letter, is called the specific name or the 

 The plural of genu- a; species i- both singular and 



plural. Besides these leal name- for our trees and other plants th< 



oinable "common" names which may he in English, 

 French, Latin. German, Russian, Chinese. Choctaw, which are very 



the real identity of the plant in question. Scientific- 

 Latin nan • lless of the language which the 

 ■ r writer may use. This is tremendously advantageous because 

 given plant may have .-cores of common names in various langua. 

 hut only one scientific name which is the same for all language 



The objection has been raised against scientific names that they 

 are long, meaningless, difficult to pronounce and to learn, and in general 

 that they represent a bad principle. Such objections really have no 

 foundation or weight because few English speaking people seriously 

 object to saying Chrysanthemum, Ageratum. Sequoia, Geranium, Mau r - 



II. Leaf Outline^ 





A 



'«nceolate Ovate Heart-shaped Halberd-shaped Linear Kllir" 



nolia, etc., and all of these are scientific names. Of course some per- 

 sons would rather memorize an outlandish and meaningless name for 

 a plant and then quarrel with a friend who has a different "common" 

 nr.me for the same plant as to the identity of the plant in question, 



Oblong Oval Orbicular Oblanceolate Spatulatc Ob<>\ 



her than to think of accepting a good scientific name. Such peo: 

 lorn know plants anyhow; such an attitude will not lead a person 

 into scientific habits of thinking and living, habits which are coming 

 to be more widely lauded and practiced each year. So why no' 



—5— 



