PREFACE. Vli 



rally grows, its usual time of flowering,* its duration, 

 and its arboreous or shrubby nature — allude chiefly, and 

 in as few words as possible,f to habit, size, colour, or 

 general aspect. 



The synonymes are almost wholly omitted, as they 

 could be of no use during our excursions; but they ought 

 to be carefully examined at home from the " Flora" 

 itself, as well as the more diffuse descriptions and criti- 

 cal discussions which it contains. 



It would be advisable, indeed, as soon as the genus to 

 which the plant under examination belongs, has been 

 satisfactorily ascertained, to compare it, in the first 

 place, with the characters which are given in this Com- 

 pendium, in order to discover its specific name, and 

 afterwards, with the detailed observations which the 

 " Flora" furnishes. For experience has proved that 

 plants examined in this way are not readily forgotten ; 

 at the same time that a habit of correct investigation is 

 formed, and the power of discrimination increased. 



It may be proper to observe that the figures annexed 

 to the species, refer to the volumes and plates of the 

 "English Botany." 



* The figures 1,2, 3, &c. answer to the months January, Febru- 

 ary, March, Sfc. ; and the marks 0, $ , 11, to the terms annual, 

 biennial, perennial, respectively ; T2 indicating that the plant is 

 either arboreous or shrubby. 



t The abbreviations here used seem not to need much explana- 

 tion ; mount, or mis. being written for mountains, sit. for situations, 

 caL for calyx, R. for root, Z. for leaves, Fl. for flower, with many 

 other similarly contracted forms. 



