PREFACE 



WHAT is known as Engler's System of the 

 Classification of Plants embodied in the Natiir- 

 liche Pfla7tze7ifamilien and in the successive editions of 

 the Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien, in the opinion of 

 many modern systematic botanists represents, as a 

 whole, the nearest approach to a natural system that 

 we possess. 



While specialists may criticise it in one detail or 

 another, and while it is certain that we are as yet far 

 from finality, owing to the numerous lacunae which still 

 exist in our knowledge of different groups, there can 

 be little if any doubt that no other published system 

 of classification rivals Professor Engler's in broad grasp 

 of principle and masterly treatment of complicated 

 detail. It is the conspicuous merit of Professor Engler 

 and his collaborators that they have kept constantly 

 presented to botanists in the successive editions of the 

 Syllabus the best scheme that could in their judgment 

 be devised at the moment. 



The present work is intended to familiarise students 

 of British Vascular Plants with Engler's system in its 

 latest form and thus both to habituate British floristic 

 students to the use of a more natural system than that 



S-b' ^ 5 ^ 



