PREFACE. 



cance of tlie various plant-organs, passing on to tlie chemical 

 constituents of plants, and divers other ajspearances. 



Section 43 is devoted to the morphological development of 

 different groups, and then we arrive at works descriptive of 

 phanerogamic species, the Laws of Nomenclature constitute 

 a short section, and then MonograjDhs of flowering plants are 

 enumerated. This title has been objected to as not affording 

 an accurate description of its contents ; my explanation is, 

 that where separate groups, or even species are described, they 

 are ranged here, although many of the treatises are far from 

 being exhaustive, on the genus or other division to which they 

 refer. Those critics who most strongly objected to my use 

 of the term Monographs were quite unable to suggest an 

 alternative name which should take its place ; their objections 

 may therefore be set aside, without any hesitation. I am quite 

 ready to share with Pritzel any blame which can possibly 

 attach to such use of the word ; after that term has been used 

 during a whole generation in precisely my sense of its meaning, 

 it is useless to carp at it as if it were a novelty of my own 

 fabrication. 



I have dealt with Cryptogams, first in general, then in de- 

 tail ; Vascular Cryptogams, Ferns, Mosses, Algae, Lichens, and 

 Fungi ; these last having been again divided. Much of what 

 has been written within the last decade on Fungi as parasitic 

 on animals and the cause of disease, has more affinity with 

 medical, than botanical literature. Monographs of Fungi next 

 follow, under the group-names given by the authors them- 

 selves, I have not attempted any scheme of classification, as 

 at the present time systems are constantly changing, whilst the 

 alphabet does not ; such names as Oidium are therefore not 

 banished, as some ardent modern mycologists would wish. 



