BOTANICA. 
35 
the true character of the species to which they belong; which 
cause being removed, the plant is restored to its true specific 
character: and these incidental varieties chiefly arise by dif¬ 
ference of soil or culture, in some of the above circumstances. 
And though it is as necessary to collect varieties under their 
proper species, as the species under their proper genera; yet 
it is often more difficult; first, from the difficulty of ascer¬ 
taining the genus , and secondly, from the variety confounding 
the species ; # and sometimes some parts of the specific cha¬ 
racter itself are also subject to variety, particularly the leavespf 
though in general the true specific character is constant and 
unchangeable, arising only from such circumstances wherein 
plants of the same genus are found to disagree, which dis¬ 
tinctions are commonly taken with most certainty, from the 
following parts, (viz.) root, trunk, leaves, fulcra, hybernacle, 
inflorescence: all which parts have been already explained, 
except hybernacle. 
The HYBERNACLE, (winter lodgment) is that part of a 
plant which defends the embryo, or future shoot, from external 
injuries during the winter ; and according to Linnaeus, is either 
a bulb or a bud.%-^See gemmation under habit of plants. 
I. A Bulb, (bulbus) is a large sort of bud produced under 
ground, placed upon the caudex of certain herbaceous plants; 
hence called bulbus plants; all of which are perennial, that is. 
* See the note at the end of luxuriant flowers . The name that constitutes the 
variety is to be placed immediately after the specific name* as flore pleno, corolla 
rubra , &c. 
f In respect to leaves, which are mentioned as a distinction of species, yet sub- 
ject to variety, it may be necessary to observe, that in general the leaves are constant 
as to figure and situation ; but vary in respect to number of fingers, or lobes, in 
digitated and winged leaves, and in growing by threes, fours, or fives? Curled and 
variegated leaves are also a frequent variety, and they often differ as to size and 
colour. 
X From Linnaeus’s definition of the hybernacle , it seems to appear that tuberous 
roots, and seeds, might with equal propriety bear that appellation with the bulb and 
the bud; but he hath thought proper to give them a different distinction ; for 
Linnaeus does not allow the bulb and bud to be roots, but hybernacles or winter 
lodgments, into which the whole plant retires during the winter, in miniature j for 
the bulb is exactly the same under ground, as the bud is above. 
