How Plants Get Their Names

Reveals the confusion that results from misleading popular names of plants and points out the advantages of a sound, scientific approach. These few chapters cover virtually every aspect of the subject of how plants get their names and what those names signify. 11 illustrations.

A cofounder of the American Society for Horticultural Science, Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954) wrote many scientific works as well as books that explained botany to lay readers. In addition to serving as the first Dean and Director of the State College of Agriculture at Cornell, Bailey played a prominent role in the development of agricultural extension services, 4-H societies, and nature studies.

I. ON MY TABLE
    "Admiration of two colorful potted plants, with inquiry as to how one of them came to be called Pseudocapiscum and then Solanum PseudoCapsicum, and the other Piper indicum, then Capiscum annum and Capsicum frutescens."
II. LINNÆUS
    "Appreciation of Carolus Linnæus, known also as Carl von Linné, great naturalist of Sweden, who founded the binomial system of naming plants and animals; together with references to various antecessors."
III. IDENTIFICATION
    "Explanation of the importance of knowing the plant accurately before a name may be applied to, with various examples to illustrate this necessity and an account of the herbarium for record."
IV. RULES OF NOMENCLATURE
    "Consideration of regulations whereby order may be maintained in applying names to the hundreds of thousands of plants and in admitting new species to the lists, and yet safeguard the freedom of the investigator in all kinds of biological work."
V. A FEW MORE
    "Application of the foregoing discussions to various cultivated plants, that the reader may see how the principles work out in practice and be advised of some of the reasons, together with observations."
VI. THE NAMES AND THE WORDS
    Presentation of lists of names of genera and species with suggestions on pronunciation, the usual meaning or significance of Latin adjectives when employed in botanical binomials, preceded by explanations, all to the end that the reader may find more joy in incorporating names of precision in customary speech and more satisfaction in spelling them.