14 



Introduction 



known. All names are made up of two parts, the genus cor- 

 responding to the family name such as Smith and Jones, and the 

 species agreeing with our customary baptismal name, as John 

 and Mary, and functioning as an adjective. Better known are 

 the common names similar to nicknames, and convenient for use 

 in localities because they are more easily remembered by those 

 not educated in botanical terminology. Spanish Dagger ex- 

 presses more than Yucca treculeana and Blue Eyed Grass more 

 than Sisyrinchium angustifolium. But when we speak of Texas 

 Stars, anyone of the following plants may be included, — 

 Erythraea calycosa, Sabbattia campestris, both pink members of 

 the Gentian Family, or Lindheimera texana and Engelmannia 

 bipinnatifida, two yellow composites. It will thus be seen that 

 many misunderstandings may arise through the use of these 

 names in the same locality or in different localities. The common 

 larkspur is the "espuela de caballero" with the Mexicans; red- 

 bud of one locality finds itself Judas tree of another locality ; the 

 ill smelling skunk-bush finds itself a hop-tree where the fruits are 

 used as a substitute for hops; red mallows (Malvaviscus) in 

 spring become Mexican apples in the fall; Bee blossom (Gaura 

 suffulta) in certain counties is called wild honey-suckle and 

 being a member of the evening primrose family is vastly different 

 in structure from the true honeysuckle; the giant ragweed of 

 Bexar County is the bloodweed of Travis County. It will thus 

 be seen that while common names often are more descriptive than 

 the scientific names, the latter are necessary when accuracy is 

 required. 



The genus names have their origin in many ways. Many are 

 named from some characteristic common to a group of plants. 

 Note the following : Polanisia, Gr. polys, many, anisos, unequeal, 

 from the stamens; Bursa, Lat. Bursa, purse, from the pod: 

 Erodium, Gr. erodius, heron, from the shape of the fruit: 

 Saponaria, Lat. saponaria, soap-like, from the soapy sap: 

 Stellaria, Lat. stellaria, star-like, from the shape of the flower: 

 Eriogonum, Gr. erion, wool, gonu, knee, from the woolly, jointed 



