8 TYPES OF BRITISH PLANTS 
divided according to the character of the seed. One 
group has only one embryo leaf in the seed, and the 
other has two. This seems a very small point by which 
to classify, like making up a form by the colour of the 
boys’ eyes; but we shall see later on that certain striking 
differences are to be found in all the plants that come 
from these seeds with only one root-leaf or cotyledon. 
Here, then, is a skeleton table of the classification, with 
the scientific names of the various groups. If you can 
remember these names, so much the better, but it is a 
good deal more important to remember the characteristics 
of the various groups, and the reasons for so arranging 
them. 
Before we go farther with particular plants or types 
of plants, it will be best for us to look into the essential 
parts of all plant life, to find out what we can about 
the “cell” which is the foundation of the plant, and 
of the vessels and fibres which appear as soon as we 
reach the higher forms. Then, when we have seen what 
we can of their structure, we shall be able to see the 
plant at work, using these various implements, making the 
best fight it can for a comfortable life, and always trying 
to ensure that there shall be plenty of descendants who 
shall carry on the battle of the race (Chapters II.-V.). 
