Scientific Nomenclature

Abstract

A propos of Prof. Parker's interesting article on scientific nomenclature in your issue of the 19th inst. (p. 68), I should like to call attention to the misuse of the term involucre in regard to the Anemone, &c. The so-called involucre of the Anemone is really, morphologically, a calyx, and until the flower-bud has grown to the height of an inch or two from the ground, it to a certain extent performs the ordinary functions of a calyx. Then an internode is developed between the calyx and corolla. But the presence of this internode, long as it is, should no more prevent our assigning to the calyx its proper name, than does the slight internode existing between the calyx and corolla of Lychnis diurna.