8 



NOMENCLATURE. 



an already well known form, to every insignificant appendage 

 or part of an organ. Much circumspection is necessary, not 

 to mistake the happy middle course. 



11. 



The properties of forms are expressed by adjectives Or 

 participles. These have a different meaning according to 

 their different terminations. 



1. Adjectives in atns designate the presence of a certain 

 organ : radicatus, that which has a root ; Jbliatus^ which has 

 a leaf. But this rule must not be understood as universal ; 

 because lanceolatus, ovatus, and many others, signify only a 

 resemblance. 



2. Those which end in osus express an abundance of par- 

 ticular organs ; nervosus,Jbliosus, cicatricosus. 



8. Adjectives in inus and aceus denote the nature of the 

 organ. Thus, Jbliaceus means having the nature of a leaf : 

 radicinus denotes that which has the consistence of a root. 

 A corolla calyeina is one which partakes of the nature of a 

 calyx. But there are many exceptions also to this mode of 

 expression, however much a general agreement is to be 

 wished. 



4. When an organ is wanting, we put the Greek et, priva- 

 tive before a Greek word, or the e before a Latin word; 

 (aphyllus^ apetalus^ enervis, eccstipulatus, eglandulosus). 

 Some hybrid expressions, however, have crept in, which we 

 must endure : for instance, avenius ; and also acaulis, where 

 the better term would be acaulus. In some instances, std)- 

 nullus is placed immediately after nullus: Mar go nullus, 

 mbnullus. We often express the absence of certain organs 

 or forms, although in an indefinite manner, by nudus or sim- 

 plex : thus, the Corolla is said to be nudus, when it has no 

 calyx ; the branches, nudi, when they have no leaves : the 

 stalk, simplex, when it is destitute of branches. Finally, it 

 . is usual, when an organ is wanting, to designate positively 

 the opposite property : thus, we say inermis, and muticus, in 

 opposition to spinosus, aculeatus, aristatus, and cuspidatus. 



