CLASSIFICATION. 



73 



crease of hybrids, has led to a great number of plants 

 beiog described in books as distinct species which, in 

 reality, are not so. Without practical observation, there- 

 fore, it is impossible, in many cases, to arrive at any 

 satisfactory conclusion from herbarium specimens alone, 

 as to whether they are distinct species or varieties. The 

 practical cultivator often differs from the scientific 

 botanist, as in living specimens he sees characters, that 

 are indistinct or entirely disappear in the herbarium ; 

 these differences being permanent, and becoming fami- 

 liar to the eye, he feels himself justified in consider- 

 ing the plants distinct species. On taking a general 

 view of what is supposed to characterize species, it may 

 be said to be beyond human power to ascertain whether 

 the serial gradations of form are genuine descendants of 

 original creation, or only deviations from one original, 

 brought about during the lapse of ages by the different 

 climatic and local influences. 



Whatever may be the number of species in a genus, 

 each is designated by a special name, called the trivial 

 name, as explained at page 8, and which is derived from 

 various sources, the greater number being either a Greek 

 or Latin word, denoting the form, colour, or property of 

 some part, or organ, or special quality of the plant, 

 such as angustifolia and latifolia, for broad and narrow 

 leaf; pauciflora andmultiflora, for fewand many flowered; 

 edule and toxicaria, for edible and poisonous, &c. Their ^ 

 native country and place of growth also give names to 

 many, as Trollius europceus, T. caucasicus, T. america- 

 niis, and T. asiaticiis ; the words montana, jpratensis, 

 aquaticiis, &c., denoting whether growing in mountain, 

 meadow, or water. Many bear the names of persons, 

 the termination distinguishing the reason; thus, Cun- 



