40 



those of an Acacia, but distinctly marked with glandular dot- 

 ting; a very unusual case among Leguminous plants. The 

 twigs are short, and so closely set upon the branches as to 

 form a dense mass of foliage ; each is terminated by an erect 

 compact spike, from two to three inches long, of white or pale 

 yellow flowers, which although not larger than those of a 

 Spirsea, nevertheless from their abundance must produce a 

 beautiful appearance. 



Genera Plantarum secundum Ordines naturales disposita ; auctore Stephana 

 Endlicher. Vindobonas, 4 to. 



There has been no Genera Plantarum published since 

 that of Jussieu in 178.9, with the exception of reprints, and 

 the worthless compilation by Sprengel ; and during the long 

 interval that has since elapsed, the science of Botany has 

 grown from a dwarf of almost Lilliputian dimensions to the 

 stature of an Anak. The number of genera recognized by 

 Jussieu was something less than 2000 ; the list of genera 

 at the end of the 2nd edition of my Natural System of Botany 

 in 1836, was 7840, and many more have to be added. The 

 publication of a new digest of the genera of plants, with their 

 characters as limited by the best authorities, or defined by 

 original observation, had therefore become a work of the 

 greatest necessity to all persons occupied with the study of 

 the science; but it was at the same time so difficult, that no 

 person could be found with energy enough to attempt its ex- 

 ecution, till Dr. Endlicher, of Vienna, a learned man and an 

 excellent Botanist, with the Imperial libraries and collections 

 of that capital to assist him, seriously set himself to accom- 

 plish this great purpose. 



In August, 1836, the first part of the work made its ap- 

 pearance, written in Latin, and arranged according to a 

 system peculiar to the author. It contained the characters 

 of the classes, sub-classes, and natural orders and genera, 

 written with an elegance of language too seldom found in the 

 works of modern Botanists. It was accompanied by a " Con- 

 spectus diagnosticus," or short abstract of the distinctive 

 characters of the classes, orders, &:c. and a copious Index ; 

 and subsequently a "Conspectus dispositionis," or arranged 

 Catalogue of the names of the classes, orders, &c. has been 

 commenced. The work has now reached the tenth part, and 

 the last genus is numbered 4583. How many more parts 



