PARA Ad 
SYSTEMATIC BOTANY, 
OR 
BOTANICAL TAXONOMY. 
_ 625. Arrer we have acquired a knowledge of the struc- 
ture and functions of plants in general, we are able to pro- 
ceed to the proper object of Botany—the study of individual 
plants. | 
626. The plants which we observe on the surface of the 
globe are, like the animal creation, divisible into groups, of 
which the individual plants are exactly similar to each other 
in appearance, in structure, &c. For instance, all the plants 
which are known by the name of “‘ Common Red Poppy” 
are almost exactly alike; if we examine two specimens of 
Purple Fox-glove (Digitalis purpurea), we shall find them 
Imost exactly alike in every particular ; one may be larger 
than the other, have more flower-buds developed, or have its 
petals of a richer hue, but in every essential point these two 
lants closely resemble each other ; and they bear the same 
relation to one another as one animal does to another of the 
same kind or species. A group of plants, such as this, is 
called a Species ; and any one particular plant is termed a 
Specimen or individual. As, from their close resemblance, 
timate object of a botanist is to render himself familiar with 
_the characters of the different species which we find — 
Surface of the earth. cg etoe te 
_ when we have made ourselves intimately acquainted with one es 
_ Specimen of a species of plants, we know all the rest, the ul- 
