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OBSERVATIONS ON PLANTS

the term aperta. It is constantly conjoined, and, perhaps,necessarily connected, with the early opening of the calyx,whose segments are originally connivent and slightly imbri-cate : for it may be here remarked, that in all the modifi-cations of what I have termed imbricate aestivation of petals,they are, I believe, in the very early stage in like mannererect, and the sexual organs equally exposed.

If the expediency of preserving the genus Cleome entirewere admitted, a question which I do not pretend at presentto decide, it would still be of the greatest importance toarrange its numerous species according to their affinities,and carefully to distinguish the subordinate groups thatcompose it. To such inferior groups, whether termedsubgenera or sections, names, in fact, have been of lateyears very generally assigned, both by zoologists andbotanists.

It has not yet been proposed, however, that these sub-generic names should form an essential part of the nameof the species ; although by employing them in this manner,while the principal groups would be kept in view, theirsubdivision would be carried to the same extent, and thesubordinate groups as well expressed, as if they had beenactually separated into distinct genera.

The adoption of this method, which would not ma-terially disturb names already existing, would probablylead to a greater consistency in the formation of genera,with reference to the natural orders of which they are sub-divisions. In this way also the co-operation of two classesof naturalists, at present opposed to each other on thequestion of the construction of genera, might to a certainextent be expected, and greater uniformity in nomenclatureconsequently secured.

These advantages appear to me so important, that someexpedient for obtaining them will, I am persuaded, at nodistant period, be generally adopted.

In favour of the present plan it may be remarked, that itis analogous to the method followed by the Romans in theconstruction of the names of persons, by which not only theoriginal family, but the particular branch of that family to