INTRODUCTION. 3 
other in the structure and functions of their leading organs, 
and there would be a needless repetition in describing fully 
the anatomy and physiology of each plant. A description of 
any organ or function in one plant, will apply to the same 
organ or function in a great many plants, and, with some 
slight variation, to numbers of others. Hence Phytology is 
conveniently divided into General Ply ytology and Special 
Phytology. 
7. Generat Puyrotoey,* has to do with plants in gene- 
ral. It describes the structure, functions, habits, &¢. of those 
leading varieties of organs which are common to all plants, or 
to any considerable class. It is in a manner, a generalization 
of the whole phenomena of vegetation. It is, more special- _ 
ly, the Science of Plants—selecting the leading features and 
general laws which pervade the vegetable kingdom. 
8. Speciat Puyroiocy, sometimes termed Phytography, 
_ or Descriptive Botany, gives an account of each particular oe 
kind of plant. It embraces those 
ture, &e. in which individual silenia elle Searels ek. jugs 
It presupposes a knowledge of the general structure and 
functions of the organs, but describes those peculiarities in 
which any particular organ may differ from the same organ 
in other plants. It might be’ termed Individual Botany, as 
its office is to describe each different kind of plant. It is 
the subject of those botanical works termed Fioras; and is 
the ultimate aim of the botanist. Before it can be under-— 
stood, it is obvious that the student must be familiar with — 
General Phytology. 2a 
9. In order to understand the descriptions of plants in a = be 
Flora, or special Phytology, two other branches of bo- ¥, 
= tany must be studied —Boranicat Terminotoey (or Gt 
scat and Boranicat Taxonomy (or Systema 
