212. A TEXTBOOK OF GENERAL BOTANY 
the specific name. The generic name always begins with a capi- 
tal letter. According to the most widely accepted usage a spe- 
cific name is always begun with a small letter. Some botanists, 
however, prefer to begin the specific name with a capital letter 
if that name is derived from the name of a person. When the 
specific name is not derived from a proper noun, it always begins 
with a small letter. As an example we may take the coconut, 
which belongs to the genus Cocos and has the specific name 
nucifera. We write first the name Cocos and begin it with a 
capital C. This is followed by the name nucifera (meaning “nut- 
bearing”), which is begun with a small n. The name is therefore 
written Cocos nucifera. As another example we may take the 
cultivated coleus. This plant belongs to the genus Coleus and 
has the specific name d/umez. According to the most widely 
accepted usage this name is written Coleus blumei. The name 
blumet was given in honor of the Dutch botanist Blume. Owing 
to the derivation of the name, some botanists prefer to write it 
Blumet. Specific names frequently refer to some character of the 
plant, as nucifera (nut-bearing), odorata (fragrant), microphylla 
(small-leaved), peinnata (pinnate-leaved). In other cases the 
name may be derived from a country, as americana; or from 
the name of a man, as dlumei; or from one of various other 
sources. Generic names are similarly derived. 
The generic name is regarded as a proper noun and is applied 
to only one genus in the whole plant kingdom. It is therefore 
begun with a capital letter. The specific name is regarded as 
a common noun and may be applied to different species in. 
many genera. 
Owing to the fact that the specific name may be applied to 
a large number of species in different genera, the specific name 
is never correctly used except in connection with the generic 
name. The generic name, on the other hand, may be used alone, 
as it applies to only one genus. As an example we may take 
the case of the cannas. These plants belong to the genus Canna, 
so that when we use the generic. name Canna it has a definite 
meaning, as we know at once that it applies to the cannas. One 
