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CHAPTER V. 
OF SYNONYMS. 
The synonyms of plants are the names applied to particular 
species by different authors. Names are often unlike each 
other; in which case synonyms become indispensable to a 
right knowledge of a plant ; but when one name only has 
been given by common consent, synonyms, in that case, are 
of less importance. The objects that they serve are these : 
they indicate — 
1. The names of the authors who have described the spe- 
cies, and the place in their writings in which the descrip- 
tion is to be found. 
2. The chronology of the species, pointing out the period 
at which it was first made known to the world. 
3. The works in which figures are to be found. 
4. The various names under which it has, from time to 
time, been known. 
Synonyms, therefore, if complete, present a brief, but very 
instructive history of a plant. In monographs, or complete 
accounts of particular groups of plants, no synonyms of any 
importance whatever ought to be omitted : in more concise 
works, one or two of the principal are sufficient. The im- 
portance of a synonym depends upon its being that of some 
author who has written, in an original manner, upon a given 
plant. In proportion as originality decreases, the value of 
synonyms decreases also. 
In arranging synonyms, a strict chronological order should 
be maintained, beginning with the most ancient name, and 
ending with the most recent. But, although the citation of 
the names must be strictly chronological, it does not therefore 
follow that the quotation of the works in which the names 
occur should be chronological also : this would lead to great 
