16*  -*- PREFACE, 
The authors have endeavoured to avoid unnecessary technical 
words or phrases, where a common English expression conveys 
as definite a meaning. In the majority of cases, however, they 
have used the ordinary botanical terms, as being the briefest and 
clearest for the purpose; but as most or all of these terms will 
be found explained in the “Outline Introduction to Botany,” 
and are referred to in the “Indew of terms” which follows, 
the student may soon become familiar with those in most 
constant use; and having learned to contrast “ glabrous” with 
“ smooth,” (the former being used for smoothness as distinguish- 
ed from hairiness, the latter smoothness as contrasted with me- 
quality of surface, or roughness) he will see the necessity of having 
definite terms with accurately discriminated significations. 
We should have added English names to the genera and 
principal species, had we not found it impossible to do so in a 
practically useful manner; and this for the following reasons : 
st. English names of plants are of no certain application, and 
often differ in different districts of England ; and, for aught the 
authors know, may have acquired new meanings in the Colony. 
and. The number of Cape genera having established English 
names is extremely few; and often the same English name is 
applicable to several genera. Thus, the colonial name “ Milk- 
bush” signifies not merely a Gomphocarpus, but any Asclepiade- 
ous plant, and would probably also be given to a shrubby 
Euphorbia or any milky-juiced plant. “ Zuwrebesjies” is given 
to several distinct and widely separated shrubs or trees, which 
happen to agree in having acid, edible fruits. “ Blwmbosch” has 
a still wider range of meaning; and so of other colonial names. 
3rd.— English names for genera being comparatively few ; if we 
had adopted the practice of always giving English names, 
we could only accomplish the feat by inventing colloquial 
names or soubriquets, i. e. introducing new barbarous words, 4 
practice we do not think desirable to follow. If colonial names 
do exist for a large number of genera, colonial botanists must 
communicate them to the authors before the latter can be 
expected to know them, or their application. We can determine 
the botanical name, if it have one, of any unnamed plant sent to 
us ; but no amount of sagacity or learning could discover for us 
