CLASSIFICA TION, 



67 



rivers, lakes, etc., agree, in possessing a number of pecu- 

 liar features in common, which are the result of living 

 submerged, though their flowers retain the generic cha- 

 racters by which the plants are at once distinguished. 



As the beginner will understand the reasons for 

 framing the higher groups, such as Families, after 

 having studied the flowers themselves, I shall presently 

 begin to describe the chief natural orders or families 

 with the one which botanists always place first of all, 

 namely, Ranunculacece ; and this will supply us with 

 materials for answering the question, How are plants 

 to be classified ? 



It will be advisable, however, to give here a tabulated 

 scheme of Classification to refer to. I shall follow in 

 the main the arrangement given in the Flora Capensis, 

 consisting of a description of every species in the 

 Colony. It is being prepared at Kew, but is at present 

 unfinished. 



PHANEROGAMiE, OR FLOWERING PLANTS. 



