2 
EXPLANATION OF TERMS. 
cleft where there is an annular union, and I consider a mere 
annular union of the base to be scarcely a tube. In plants 
which are only known to me by the description of others, I 
cannot ascertain the fact, in consequence of the laxity of their 
expressions. Latin adjectives in osus always signify an excess 
of the quality; such words have been greatly misapplied by 
botanists, and I erred in naming a plant in the Botanical Re- 
gister Pharium fistulosum, which must be called P. fistulatum, 
for fistulosum really means either full of pores like a sponge, 
or having one enormous pore. I shall use such words strictly, 
ex. gr. Spadicosus having a large spadix ; spadiceus or spa- 
dicatus having a spadix. Dr. Lindley has unfortunately 
made an extensive use of the termination osus, which it is very 
necessary to rectify. The termination inus may be conveniently 
substituted to answer his purpose ; but the subversion of 
latinity by the misuse of a termination which has a decided 
meaning is very objectionable. We are forced to create mon- 
grel Latin to express what the Romans never thought of ex- 
pressing, but we should write correct Latin where we can ; on 
which account I protest against the use, too frequent amongst 
botanists, of 'tills and eis for those with a genitive following, 
as semina illis Amaryllidis conformis instead of semina Ama- 
ry^llidi conformis or conformia. By a linear leaf I under- 
stand, that the liijes of its margin are parallel. Much con- 
fusion has been made by using the word linearis to signify 
also indiscriminately a line long, or a line wide, which should 
be expressed by lineam latum ; nor does it seem to be uni- 
formly established, what portion of an inch is meant by a 
line, being the tenth part of an inch according to Dr. John- 
son, and the twelfth according to French mensuration. The 
unlearned reader is further referred to a glossary at the end 
of the volume. 
