CLASSIFICATION. 



75 



botanists are as much at variance respecting the cha- 

 racter that should constitute a genus, as they are with 

 regard to distinction of species. Some multiply genera 

 and species — the former by excessive subdivision ; the 

 latter by raising every distinct variety to the rank of a 

 species. Others reduce the number by including more 

 species in a genus, and regarding the less important 

 varieties as belonging to the same species. This diffe- 

 rence is a source of great perplexity to beginners. The 

 latter plan, as adopted by Mr. Bentham in his excellent 

 " Handbook of the British Flora," is much to be pre- 

 ferred for its greater simplicity. 



The botanist who describes and names plants is called 

 the authority for the name ; and it is a rule to affix after 

 the botanical name the abbreviated name of the author. 

 Thus, Solanum tuberosum, Linn. ; Araucaria excelsa. 

 Ait. ; Fuchsia gracilis, Lindl. ; Hoy a carnosa, E. Br. : 

 these names being given by Linnaeus, Alton, Lindley, 

 and Kobert Brown. This is necessary on account of the 

 various names, often very numerous, which have been 

 given to the same plant by different botanists, to unravel 

 which forms a great part of the study of scientific 

 botany. In the following pages authorities are dispensed 

 with, as without a general index for the names of bota- 

 nists, the abbreviations only serve to perplex the amateur 

 student. 



It has been shown that one or more species constitute 

 a genus ; the next point is to classify the genera into 

 natural alliances, tribes, and families, by associating to- 

 gether genera that agree in certain particulars, as general 

 habit, mode of growth, structure, and qualities, the name 

 of the leading or typical genus being generally selected 

 as the name of the family. Thus the one to which Ranun- 



