S3 
BOTANICAL INDEX. 
Fig. 93. 
POJVTEDERIA. Linn. 
Order — Pontederiaceie. A. Richard. 
Type— P. Cordata. Linn. 
Etymology.— In honor to Julius Pontedera, Professor of Botany at Padua, 
Italy, in the beginning of the last century. 
[Jifty ] 
NE of the most pleasing traits of human nature is 
tiie desire to honor the memory of a dear friend 
or patron with a tribute, in recognition of services 
rendered ; especially, any one that has devoted a 
life to public service; and this not only serves 
as a memento of friendship, but also as a lasting 
monument to their memory for future generations. But 
the custom is not of recent origin, for if we turn to ancient 
history vve find in the earliest known records of the human 
family, that to the memory of successful chieftains divine 
honors were paid and superstitious rites were instituted, 
while their names were handed down to succeeding gen- 
erations as demi-gods and heroes. To the memory of re- 
nowned warriors and statesmen of recent times, huge 
granite or marble monuments are raised; but to perpetu- 
ate the memory of the man of science, a brother student 
dedicates a family or genus of plant or animal life to serve 
as a finger-board, if you please, to point out the virtues 
and perpetuate the memory of a once successful co-laborer. 
But this custom is often very severely criticised as an 
Fie. 92. 
Fie. 91. 
