HOW TO USE THE BOOK 



If the plant to be identified is entirely unknown the first thing to do is to turn to the 



KEY 



on page 12, and decide in which Figure or group of Figures it is most likely to be 

 found. (By a tree or shrub is meant a plant with a woody stem, part of which, at 

 least, does not die back every winter. It is no use, therefore, looking for her- 

 baceous perennials, many of which have, when fully developed, all the appearance 

 of shrubs. On the other hand, many low-growing plants, more suitable for the 

 rockery than the shrubbery, will be found. Generally speaking, everything 

 described in this book would be included in their tree and shrub catalogue by 

 most nurserymen. All other terms used in the key and elsewhere in this book 

 are fully explained on pages 3 to 9.) 



Having found the most likely group turn to the Figures indicated on the right- 

 hand side of the key and run through the 



DIAGRAMS, 



marking those which are most like the specimen it is desired to identify. The 

 illustrations are somewhat diagrammatic; superfluous shading and other details 

 not necessary for identification have been omitted for the sake of clearness. Nor 

 have they been drawn to a definite scale. Apart from the difficulty of making 

 exact scale-drawings in a book of this size, they would serve no useful purpose 

 owing to the great variation in the size of leaves on one plant. The relative sizes 

 of leaves have, however, been indicated as far as possible; for example, where 

 the average leaves of one species are about three times larger than those of 

 another figured on the same page, they have been drawn three times larger wherever 

 space permits. In the case of flowers shown separately from the plant to which 

 they belong the size is governed solely by the need for displaying their structure. 

 In any case, the maximum dimensions of leaves, flowers, and fruits are given in 

 the descriptive section. 



The drawings have mostly been made from living (in a few cases from dried) 

 material; where they have not, the source has been acknowledged in brackets. 



The different species illustrated in one Figure are given letters: A, B, C, and 

 so on. (There may be several drawings for one species, when arrows indicate 

 to which species they belong.) Now refer to the text appended to each Figure. 

 Each letter is followed by the common name, if any, and then by the Latin (botani- 

 cal) name in italics. (Notice that the Latin name of the genus is not repeated in 

 full unless the sequence is interrupted by the name of a different genus.) It may 

 not be necessary to go further ; but if there is any doubt, or additional confirma- 

 tion is wanted, look up the Latin name of the genus (the first of the two names 

 in italics) in the index at the end of the book. Common names are also given in 

 the index, but more for general reference than for use at this stage. The page 

 numbers in the index refer to the 



DESCRIPTIONS. 



Turn to the appropriate page, and see if the description there given agrees with 



