FIELD 



AND 



WOODLAND PLANTS 



INTRODUCTION 



GENERAL CHARACTERS OF PLANTS AND THE 

 IDENTIFICATION OF FLOWERS 



The beginner will often find it difficult, and sometimes quite im- 

 possible, to identify some of the flowers seen or gathered during a 

 country ramble ; and he will hardly be surprised to experience 

 many disappointments in his attempts to do this when he realises 

 the large number of species among our flowering plants, and the 

 very close resemblance that allied species frequently bear to one 

 another. But there are right and wrong methods of setting to work 

 for the purpose of determining the identity of a plant, and the object 

 of this chapter is to put the beginner on the right track. He must 

 remember, however, that the aid given here is intended to assist 

 him principally in the identification of the commoner species, 

 though it may, at the same time, help him to determine the natural 

 affinities or relationships of other flowers that fall in his way. 



The directions we are about to give the reader regarding this 

 portion of his work will be understood by him only if he is fairly 

 well acquainted with the general characters of a flowering plant and 

 with the structm-e of flowers ; and as it would hardly be advisable 

 to assume such knowledge, we shall give a brief outline of this part 

 of the subject, deaHng only with those points that are essential to 

 our purpose, and explaining the meaning of those terms which are 

 commonly employed in the description of plants and their 

 flowers. 



