454 
PHYTOGRAPHY. 
BOOK IV. 
" Stemodia balsamea, caule procumbeiite, ramis subhirsutis, 
foliis ovatis obtusis basi in petiolum brevem angustatis glabris : 
floralibus conformibus, floribus axillaribus sessilibus solitariis 
vel utrinque 2 — 3 glomeratis, calycibus 5-partitis : laciniis lan- 
ceolato-subulatis." 
And not, — 
" Stemodia balsamea, caule procumbente, ramis subhirsutis, 
foliis ovatis, obtusis, basi in petiolum brevem angustatis, gla- 
bris, floralibus conformibus, floribus axillaribus, sessilibus, 
solitariis, vel utrinque 2 — 3 glomeratis, calycibus 5-partitis, 
laciniis lanceolato-subulatis." 
If this character were punctuated in the latter manner, it 
would not be certain whether or not laciniis referred to calyx, 
or to any thing else ; in the former case it is distinctly in- 
dicated. 
If a semicolon is introduced into a specific character, it is 
when an adjective in the nominative case immediately follows 
the specific name, preceding all that part that is in the abla- 
tive : thus, — 
" Gesneria misera, procumbens ; foliis obovatis villosis," &c. 
In detailed descriptions, the mode of composing and punc- 
tuating is much the same as in the characters of genera ; 
the nominative case being chiefly used, and commas being 
placed between each adjective. The members of a sentence 
are divided by semicolons ; and if colons are employed, it is 
in the same sense as in specific characters. 
Although such are the most approved rules of punctuation, 
yet it must be confessed they are little attended to by many 
botanists ; although it cannot be doubted that they tend very 
much to perspicuity and precision of language. 
