148 



PHYTOGKAPHY. 



telligently adopted, and not misused. We must be able, 

 in the first place, so to change the names as that they shall 

 be easily pronounced ; {Gundelia for Gundelsheimeria, Cras- 

 sinia for Krascheninikovza, Goodefiia for Goodenoughia). 

 The French syllables de and cZw, le and la, are also to be 

 omitted; (Heriteru, Fontanesia). But if these syllables 

 are a part of the name, they must be adopted into the generic 

 name ; {Duhamelia, Lapeyrousia, Desvauayia), It is only 

 to be regretted, that we are often at a loss how to pronounce 

 these names, and the study cannot surely be said to be faci- 

 litated, when it is intended that names such as Knightia^ 

 Jfjiau/tonia, PaJafoxia, Munnozia, should be pronounced as 

 the English and Spaniards pronounce them. 



There is a further evil in this kind of nomenclature, that 

 no person can form to himself any conception of the plant, 

 when he hears it called by a name which has been formed 

 from that of some botanist. No person can have an idea 

 attached to many names, borrowed from men who are either 

 altogether unknown, or have been distinguished but in a 

 small circle. There is a multitude of such names, the deri- 

 vation of which it is almost impossible to state. It is impro- 

 per to immortalize, in this way, men wjjo have been known 

 in other departments of study, or who have gained but a 

 doubtful reputation. Adanson named Carrwhtera, after the 

 wild enthusiast Carrichier of Reckingen. Oribasia, JEgine- 

 tia, Podaliria, Machaonia, Hippoci'atia, Jvicennia, Jver^ 

 rhoay Fernclia, Chcq^talia, are also objectionable on the same 

 grounds. 



This honour may be shewn not only to botanical writers, 

 but ako to celebrated travellers, who, by extending our 

 knowledge of the earth, have also enriched the science of 

 plants ; as also to artists, Avho have distinguished themselves 

 by excellent representations of plants ; on which account the 

 names Cookia, Buginvillaa, Magellana^ Bauera, Ehretia^ 

 Turpmiay Redutea, may be justified. 



