4.S0 ON SPECIES 
and as the Henslow diagrams will be the great engine of 
instruction for schools, ladies, parsons and the hke, it would 
meo sensii be most unwise of B. to have ignored them or 
adopted any new-fangled ones. I hate and despise the 
whole English system both for ordinal and generic names. 
You know how difficult it is to get any really good books 
put into Govt, circulation, and it would be a most serious 
drawback to the good Bentham's would do were he not 
to make his uniform with the system in vogue. These 
things are trifles to us, but terminology is a serious affair 
to the classes the book is intended for ; so whatever you 
do, do not put Bentham off using anths. I advised say- 
ing Eanunculaceae — Eanunculus family, and in brackets 
(Eanunculanths) after. 
To Asa Gray 
January 2, 1858. 
Yours of the 19th has just arrived and gratified me very 
much. I am, I need not tell you, in the habit of saying at 
least as much as I think, when I have fault to make or find, 
for I hate to let it be supposed that I have held back any 
growl, or grudge, or stone of offence in hat or pocket. 
I am glad that you have taken up the Balanophoreae 
matter and that of high and low specialization. I hope you 
note that I do not commit myself to the theory of perfection 
being expressed by consoHdation, but state all hypothetically. 
I wish I could see my way clearly through the maze of high 
and low amongst Dicotyledonous Exogens. Formerly I felt 
inclined to exalt Tiliaceae, Malvaceae and Euphorbiaceae, 
and to assume as the highest type of flower that which has 
(1) complete series of whorls ; (2) those whorls all distinct 
from one another ; (3) each whorl being of numerous 
members ; (4) each member being highl}^ specialized ; (5) 
each carpel to contain many perfect ovules and albuminous 
dicot. seeds ; — thus in short returning to DC. Still the 
question remains, is a large imperfect group to be placed 
at the top of the vegetable ladder because one or a few 
of its members presents these attributes in greater degree 
than any other vegetable does ? — this cannot be conceded, 
and so the whole fabric falls to the ground. Destroy all 
Euphorbs, except the monandrous genus Ewphorhia, and 
all clue to its aflinities and rank are lost. We must there- 
