+ INTRODUCTION. 
10. Borantcan Termtnoxocy includes an explanation of 
the terms which are applied in botany to express those pe- 
culiarities in form, structure, colour, &c., by which the same 
organ may differ in different plants, and by which therefore 
different plants may be described and distinguished from 
each other. These peculiarities are what are usually term- 
ed the characters of plants. Most plants, for example, pos- 
sess the organ called “a leaf’; and it is of the same gene- 
ral structure in all. But in one plant the leaf is ovate — 
(oval), in another lanceolate (shaped like a lance), in ano- 
ther downy, in another bristly, &e. Borantcan TERMINO- 
LoGY gives the precise meaning attached to these termsin _ 
the language of Botany. Grnerat Payrotocy has pre-_ 
viously explained the ordinary structure and functions of — 
leaves. 
11. Borantcat Taxonomy, from the Greek words, ra%s, 
(taxis) order, and vozes (nomos), a law, unfolds the affinities 
or relationships found to prevail between different tribes of 
plants ; expounds the principles on which plants are classifi- 
ed, that is, grouped together in divisions and subdivisions, 
that we may easily acquire a knowledge of them; and de- — 
_ seribes the characters of the classes and orders in which 
they are arranged. Besides facilitating the study of pla 
in general, a grand practical object of Systematic Botany 
to make us acquainted with the relations between the p 
perties of plants and their structure, that we may be enabled 
from the latter indication to judge how far plants that may 
_ be new to us, may be rendered serviceable, or how far the 
are of a noxious nature, and must be avoided. 
12. Taken in the widest sense, Botany should include 
_ knowledge of those properties of plants which render 
_ serviceable to man—furnishing him with shelter, | thi 
implements, nutriment, and medicine—and those p 
which render some ee so ee that 
to avoid. 
