XVI 
INTRODUCTION 
Some old authorities (e.g., Miller Gardiner's Dictionary , ed. 8 (1768), and Thuillier FL Env. 
Paris , ed. 2 (1799)) use capital letters in all cases. 
Druce, of course, introduces a novelty. In his List of British Plants , he uses a capital letter when 
the trivial name ends in u -ides." It seems that Druce does that always because Linnaeus did it some- 
times. Dr B. Daydon Jackson, in a note in The Journal of Botany , attempted to give a list of the 
cases where such names commemorated old genera ; but even when such a name is identical with that 
of an old genus, how is it to be determined when the name is merely descriptive (cf. Medicago falcata ) 
or when it is given in honour of an old genus (cf. Medicago Falcata) ? 
It should be added that no author is absolutely consistent in the matter. Linnaeus sometimes uses 
Salix Caprea and sometimes Salix caprea. Who will say which is correct ? 
It is obvious, therefore, that Mr Britten’s idea of precision in rules and customs is highly original. 
Botany School, Cambridge. 
January 2Tth , 1917. 
C. E. MOSS. 
The Syndics of the University Press wish to thank Mr A. J. Wilmott of the Botanical Department 
of the British Museum for much valuable assistance given by him both in correcting proofs and in 
dealing with questions which are normally settled by an Editor, in the absence from England of 
Professor Moss. 
