PREFACE. 



'npHIS volume concludes the series of three which 

 -■- has been published in order to give an idea 

 of the natural orders of the British flora, of which 

 there are ninety. The number of species described 

 amounts approximately to 250, a type, or more than 

 one type, of each order, or section of each order, 

 being included. 



In addition, the Introductions deal with the main 

 principles of botany in brief, and illustrations have 

 been drawn for this purpose from the plants described 

 in the systematic portion, it being desired that the 

 systematic study shall lead up to or be followed up 

 by that of the general morphology, physiology, and 

 other branches of botany. I do not think an in- 

 version of this process is so likely to help the 

 beginner. 



The British flora in itself affords an admirable 

 selection of plant types for study upon any lines over 

 and above the systematic. If the latter is made 

 interesting by attempting to give a life-history of 

 each, with details of pollination, etc., it may be 



