PREFACE.=TO TEACHERS. 



HIS Florula has been compiled in response to a de- 

 mand for a book simpler and briefer than the extant 

 Manuals that include the entire flora of a very large 

 portion of the United States. 



To place before the pupils descriptions of the 

 plants that do not occur in their region and which, 

 therefore they will not see, much less handle, not merely entails a 

 useless expense in the purchase of a large book when a smaller one 

 would answer the purpose, but it also requires him, as it were, to 

 thresh over a large amount of chaff for the few grains obtained. 



The object of placing a book with keys, descriptions, etc., in the 

 hands of the pupil should be, to aid him by inciting to farther 

 observation and study of the plants in his neighborhood. Its pur- 

 pose is to introduce him to the numerous and perhaps hitherto un- 

 noticed plants, to present their names, which will lead in the great 

 majority' of cases to a real and protracted acquaintance. This will 

 in time awaken the interesting and important questions as to mi- 

 nute structure, functions, affinities, origin, etc. 



The al^ridgement here presented takes cognizance of the plan, 

 that is quite prevalent or indeed universal in the schools of the 

 State, which provides that the work in elementary botany begin 

 after the Holidays and close the latter part of May or early in June. 

 The plants whose flowers usually appear in this period of time are 

 included. Difficult groups however, as Grasses, Sedges, etc., which 

 beginners never attempt, are excluded. 



All the woody plants (trees and shrubs) are included, regardless 

 of their time of flowering, and an anal3'tical key is added for their 

 especial identification — based on the characters exhibited by theii" 

 leaves and fruits. 



The generic diagnoses are not exhaustive but enumerate a few 

 and only those characters which most plainly separate the genera as 

 occurring in our flora. The specific characters are likewise referred 



