XI. ‘Omjvtobibe on’ the Fioring of certain Plants. By the Rev. 
* Thomas Martyn, B.D. F.R/S. POPOL, “otis Profe [for id Botany 
~ jn the i cli baer aren tet sl dad) bine 
un og. 9()4 ti 2aw 31 Seti) * 
| Read July 4s 797. mou eW DMB ~ovIOIL OF 
: St if poli i? 
HE improvements in the phyfiology of plants, fince the days 
of Malphigi and Grew, have by no means kept pace with 
thofe which have been made in the nomenclature, and i in the af- 
certaining ¢ of genera, -and {pecies by accurate characters, deferiptions 
and figures, under Linnzus and his followers. The reafon is ob- 
vious: in order to afcertain a plant, it is only meelary to Yee and 
defcribe it once or twice in, its ftate, of greateft perfection ; but we 
are not likely to become acquainted | with the internal ftructure. ax d 
functions of vegetables, till a feries of accurate experiments fhall 
have been gone through ; or ‘with their life, a€tions and manners, 
if we may fo.fpeak, till we, have got, together a fund of laborious 
refearches and obfervations. And there are very few perfons who 
can facrifice all the nuinerous calls of bufinefs or pleafure,, to, beftow 
a conftant and regular attention to one object, and to become al- 
moft as ftationary as the plants they are obferving. Even the fol- 
lowing obfervations, which are almoft too trifling to offer for the 
confideration of the Linnzan Society, required a regular attention 
feveral repeated times morning and evening during upwards of 
fix weeks. 
AD IX The 
