150 PHYTOGRAPHY. 



Lam. ; Solanum scahrum Lam. Jacqu. Zuccagn. Mill. Ruijs et 

 Pav, Vahl, and Dunal, are six completely different plants. 



Trivial names should be expressive ; they must either ex- 

 press the specific character, or denote generally some strik- 

 ing property, such as the general aspect of the plant, — its 

 resemblance to other plants, — its native country, — its situa- 

 tion, — its time of flowering, — the duration of its life, — its 

 smell, — taste, — and also its uses. 



Resemblance to other plants is expressed by the termina- 

 tion oides, (which, however, must not be added to any Latin 

 name, as muscoides, riparioides) ; also by Jbrmis, pseudoy or 

 by the name of the plants to which the species bears a re- 

 semblance ; {Begonia UrtictSy Veronica Anagallis, Satureia 

 Thymbrd). 



226. 



We see that the trivial name is commonly indeed an ad- 

 jective, but may sometimes be a substantive, and is then 

 written with a large initial letter. If it is an adjective, it 

 must conform itself to the gender of the generic name, and is 

 always written small, unless the adjective be formed from the 

 name of the discoverer or propagator of the plant ; (Carex 

 arenaria. Euphorbia, Gerardiana). When the trivial name 

 is a substantive, we must not be offended if it sometimes has 

 the termination of an adjective, and does not correspond with 

 the gender of the generic name ; (^Ilea: Aquifolium, Erysi- 

 mum Alliarid). 



We even allow trivial names to be sometimes barbarous, 

 because less strictness prevails here than with respect to 

 generic names ; {Centaurea Crupina, Eobinia Chamlagu). 



227. 



Trivial names should be short. We therefore avoid, as 

 much as possible, those which consist of two separate words, 

 or which are very much compounded and difficult to be pro- 

 nounced. Some that are in common use are allowed, which, 



