INTRODUCTION. V 



is a combination of a tint and a hue, and should read 

 either pink-lilac, as a tint, or magenta-purple, as a 

 hue. Now, as these colors are entirely dissimilar, I 

 am left in complete doubt as to which one the bota- 

 nist refers in using the term rose-purple. 



The color of a flower is an important factor in its 

 identification, and I have exercised great care in the 

 selection of an adequate name for it ; at the same 

 time, a few popular color-names have been retained 

 when these seemed to be sufficiently near the truth, 

 although certainly not exact. But flowers vary in 

 the presentation of a certain hue ; two specimens of 

 Lilium PTiiladeljpliicum are likely to show two dis- 

 tinct tones of red. Magenta-pink, crimson-pink, and 

 pure pink are varieties of pink common in the Orchis 

 family. Hahenaria Jimhriata is apt to vary from a 

 tint to a light hue. Cypripedium acaule is also a 

 variable crimson-pink flower. 



By constant reference to Dr. Gra}' I mean to 

 draw attention to him as our highest botanical author- 

 ity. The Manual and Fields Forest^ and Garde^i 

 Botam.y furnish a scientific background, so to speak, 

 far this volume. A late revision of the Manual fur- 

 nishes a full, detailed description of certain wild flow- 

 ers ; but a later revision, by Prof. L. II. Bailey, of 

 Field, Forest, and Garden Botany, recently published, 

 will undoubtedly prove the more useful book of the 



