CLASS III. 
SIGNS. 
423 
Class III. Of Terms of Qualification. 
Terms of qualification are generally syllables prefixed to 
words of known signification, the value of which is altered 
by such addition. These syllables are often Latin prepo- 
sitions. 
1. Oby prefixed to a word, indicates inversion : thus, o^ovate 
means inversely ovate ; o^cordate, inversely cordate ; o6coni- 
cal, inversely conical ; and so on. Hence it is evident that this 
prefix cannot be properly applied to any terms except such 
as indicate that one end of a body is wider than the other ; 
for if both ends are aHke, there can be no apparent inversion : 
therefore when the word ©^lanceolate is used, as by some 
French writers, it literally means nothing but lanceolate ; for 
that figure, being strictly regular, cannot be altered in figure 
by inversion. 
2. Sub, prefixed to words, implies a slight modification, and 
may be Englished by somewhat : as, subo\?iie means some- 
what ovate ; sw^viridis, somewhat green ; 5w6rotundus, some- 
what round ; 5MZ>purpureus, somewhat purple ; and so on. 
The same effect is also given to a term by changing the ter- 
mination into ascens, or escens : thus, viridescews signifies 
greenish ; xv\)escens, reddish ; and so on. 
Signs, 
In botany a variety of marks, or signs, are employed to 
express particular qualities or properties of plants. The 
principal writers who have invented these signs are Linnaeus, 
Willdenow, De Candolle, Trattinnick, and Loudon : — 
* Linn., Willd., De Cand., Tratt., indicates that a good 
description will be found at the reference to which it is 
affixed. 
-j- Linn., Willd., De Cand., Tratt., indicates that some 
doubt or obscurity relates to the subject to which it is 
affixed. 
/ De Cand., shows that an authentic specimen has been 
examined from the author to whose name or work it is 
annexed. 
? The note of interrogation varies in its effect, according to 
the place in which it is inserted. When found after a 
specific name, as Papaver canibricum ? it signifies that 
E E 4 
