The old method of using a number of Latin words to describe each different plant is obviously too cumbersome, and several attempts had been made prior to the time of Linnaeus to substitute simpler methods.

Linnaeus himself made several unsatisfactory attempts before he finally hit upon his system of "trivial names," which was developed in his Species plantarum, and which, with some, minor alterations, remains in use to this day.

The essence of the system is the introduction of binomial nomenclature--that is to say, the use of two names and no more to designate any single species of animal or plant.

The principle is quite the same as that according to which in modern society a man has two names, let us say, John Doe, the one designating his family, the other being individual.

Similarly each species of animal or plant, according to the Linnaeean system, received a specific or "trivial" name; while various species, associated according to their seeming natural affinities into groups called genera, were given the same generic name.