Introduction 



15 



stems : Convolvulus, Lat. convolvo, to twine around : E volvulus- 

 Lat. e, not, convolvo, to twine around. Another large group have 

 their origin in the names of places and distinguished persons. 

 Among these are Lindheimera, named for Ferdinand Lind- 

 heimer, late resident of New Braunfels, and "Father of Texas 

 Botany ' ' : Engelmannia, named for Dr. George Engelmann, who 

 named a large number of Texas plants collected by Lindheimer 

 and others: Berlandiera, named for Dr. Luis Berlandier, a 

 French scientist who collected in Mexico and Texas (1826-34) : 

 Lesquerella, named for Lesquereux, an American botanist; and 

 Castilleja, named for a Spanish botanist. 



Following the genus name is the species, which is rarely y 

 and by many modern botanists, never, capitalized. Species are 

 similar in origin to the genus names and are adjectives modifying 

 the Genus. Thus, Aesculus flava is named for the yellow petals 

 of the Mexican Buckeye : Aesculus purpurea describes the purple 

 blossoms: Quercus alba describes the White Oak: Echinodorus 

 cordifolius derives its origin from cordis, heart, folium, leaf 7 

 from the shape of the leaves : Berberis trif oliata, Lat. tri, three, 

 folium, leaf. Another group have their origin in the name of 

 interested scientists. Note the names Petalostemon stanfieldii, 

 given for S. W. Stanfield, of San Marcos : Crataegus mackensenii, 

 named for the late Bernard Mackensen of San Antonio : Quercus 

 laceyii, named for Howard Lacey of Kerrville, the discoverer of 

 the Lacey Oak. 



Following the species name is the name or the abbreviation 

 of the name, of the botanist who first described and published it. 

 For example, Castilleja wootoni Standi, was named by Br. Paul 

 C. Standley, our present Assistant Curator of the United States 

 National Herbarium. 



A further relationship of plants is expressed by placing 

 several genera with common characteristics in a family group. 

 These groups bear the ending aceae. Thus Fabaceae have bonnet- 

 shaped flowers: members of the Asteraceae have composite 

 flowers: and, Euphorbiaceae bear a three-lobed, superior ovary. 



