4 
The plan of the work is similar to that so happily employed by Linnzeus 
in his Materia Medica, a book invaluable in its day, although now forgotten, 
and better adapted to the objects of medical men than any thing which has’ 
since appeared. Each species, placed in its due position in the classifica- 
tion, has its vulgar or officinal name, as well as that which it bears in 
science, and, in a few words, the country whence it comes, the quality it has 
been said to possess, and the uses to which it has been found applicable. 
Very short phrases are also given, for the purpose of showing how the 
genera or species are to be distinguished from each other. 
The whole plan of the work is, in fact, to point out distinctions: and the 
fewest possible words are employed with this view. In many instances the 
distinctions may not be absolute, but they are sufficient for ordinary 
purposes. Those who wish to become better acquainted with Botany will, 
of course, make the ‘ Vegetable Kingdom ”’ of the author the subject of 
ulterior study. For the convenience of those who may desire to do 80; 
references are made to that work throughout all the following pages. 
The authorities generally taken for the quality and uses of officinal 
plants, are the invaluable works of Pereira, Royle, and Christison. Where 
plants are not officinal, those other sources of information have been 
consulted, from which the more extended statements in the ‘“ Vegetable 
Kingdom”’ have been derived. 
» CLASSES. 
The CLASSES of plants are seven, viz :— 
I. THALLOGENS; having no sexes, and no distinct separation of ste 
and leaves. 
II. ACROGENS; having no sexes, and distinct stems and leaves. 
III. RHIZOGENS; having sexes, and a mycelium. 
IV. ENDOGENS ; having sexes, a root and stem, endogenous wood, 
parallel-veined leaves. 
V. DICTYOGENS; having sexes, a root and stem, exogenous roots, end 
genous stems, and netted leaves, | 
VI. GYMNOGENS; haying sexes, a root and stem, exoge 
; ; nous wood 
naked seeds. : mae : 
VII. EXOGENS; having sexes, a root and stem, exogenous wood, and s 
in seed-vessels. 1 
