639 



Britain the Ranunculacege constitute about a 48th part of the whole 

 phanerogamic flora. 



" The beautiful plants which are included by systematic botanists under the or- 

 der of Nymphaeaceous plants, and are sufficiently familiar to most persons under 

 their common name of Water-lilies, are distributed less generally over the world than 

 the former order, that of Ranunculaceous plants, or than the succeeding one, consist- 

 ing of the Poppies, and allied genera. Yet, looking to the small number of distinct 

 species comprehended in it, the present order may still be said to have a wide distribu- 

 tion. Being mostly large aquatic plants, adapted to grow in lakes and the less rapid 

 rivers, the species of Nymphaeaceae are the ornaments of continental countries and low 

 places ; and are usually banished from islands and elevated mountains, as well as from 

 very cold latitudes whose waters remain frozen during a large part of the year. Hilly 

 or undulated countries, however, whose streams are converted into lakes or lake-like 

 livers on their low plains and in their valleys, may be considered favourable for the 

 support of water-lilies ; and we consequently find that our own insular position does 

 not prevent Nymphaeacese constituting quite as large a proportion of the indigenous 

 flora of Britain, as is ordinarily the case with the floras of continental countries.'' — 

 p. 174. 



We have stated that this work is printed for private distribution 

 only ; it will appear from time to time as the materials may become 

 ready, and is offered to those botanical friends who have assisted the 

 author in his investigations on that department of botanical science 

 to which it relates. The author has adopted this course from an un- 

 willingness to give such a pledge for the completion of the whole, as 

 would be implied by the pubhcation of a part, of a work which must 

 necessarily run to so voluminous an extent. Whilst we cannot but 

 respect the honourable feeling which prompted this course, and ad- 

 mire the liberality with which it has been carried out, we must also 

 regret that such a store of valuable information on this exceedingly 

 interesting branch of the science, should not be rendered accessible 

 to every student of the Botany of this country. 



Let us now proceed to make a few observations on the two other 

 publications the titles of which we have given above. We have but 

 little doubt that on the first announcement of Mr. Babington's inten- 

 tion to add another to the numerous works on British Botany already 

 existing, there was a feeling in the minds of many botanists that such 

 an addition to their libraries was not required, or, at least, that so 

 much having been effected in advancing our knowledge of British 

 plants, a new Flora must necessarily be no more than a compilation. 

 But that a new Flora was not uncalled for at the present time, and 

 that it was not impossible for such a work to be something more than 

 a mere compilation, will, we trust, be rendered evident by a hasty 



