A SYNOPSIS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



taruiii," a work in Latin published in parts from 

 1863 to 1S83. Only those families are included 

 which contain cultivated plants described in this 

 work. The system of Bentham and Hooker is 

 not the latest one, but it is the only one that was 

 practicable at the time this work was prepared, 

 because it was completed. The system of Engler 

 and Prantl was not then complete. The pha- 

 nerogamic part of tin's great work is now com- 

 plete. 



" Die Natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien " no doubt 

 presents the best system for tlie present genera- 

 tion, but in its turn it is likely to be superseded. 

 In Engler and Prantl's system the plants are ar- 

 ranged, as far as possible, in the order in which 

 the various families probably have made their ap- 

 pearance on the earth's surface, or at any rate in 

 accordance with the evolution from simple to 

 complex. Broadly speaking, the new system is 

 better adapted for showing relationship or like- 

 ness, while the old system is well adapted for 

 bringing out differences. This furnishes an addi- 

 tional reason for the use of the older system on the 

 present occasion, as most of those who use this 

 part of the Cyclopedia will probably be in search 

 of differences. For an example of the new ar- 

 rangement, see Britton and Brown's Illustrated 

 Flora of ,the Northeastern United States and 

 Canada, Vol. III. pages viii to xiv. For a con- 

 densed statement of many different systems of 

 botany, see the appendix to Warming's System- 

 atic Botany. 



The author of this Synopsis has no credit for 

 the work other than tliat of translator and 

 editor, but it should be explained that the sys- 

 tem of Bentham and Hooker has been modified in 

 some details to harmonize with those parts of the 

 Cyclopedia of American Horticulture that 

 represent later views. For example, tlie lobelias 

 are here treated, not as a mere tribe of the Cam- 

 panulacece but as a distinct family. Also, the 

 distinction between the different genera of the 

 Spiraea and apple tribes of the rose family were 

 prepared by Mr. Alfi'ed Rehder, and for the 

 orchid family by Mr. Heinrich Hasselbring. 



HOW TO USE A SYNOPSIS OR KEY. 



Anyone who will devote a few minutes to care- 

 ful study of a key will find himself richly repaid, 

 for it will unlock many treasures of scientific 

 and practical knowledge. A synopsis is designed 

 chiefly to show relationships ; a key to show 

 differences. Two examples will illustrate how 

 both may be used for eitlier purpose. 



To find the name of a species. 



Let us suppose you have a branch of the com- 

 mon smooth sumach and you wish to know what 



species it is. Consult Sumach and you are re- 

 ferred to Rhus, where you v?ill find under the 

 index a kej' to sixteen species. Choose first be- 

 tween A and AA. Is the foliage simple or com- 

 pound ? 



A glance at the plant shows that it has com- 

 pound leaves. Therefore, your plant belcngs 

 under AA, and four of the sixteen species have 

 been dismissed from consideration at one str jke, 

 viz, those under A. 



Next choose between B and BB under AA. 

 Are the leaflets normally three or are they many ? 

 The plant answers the questions at once. It has 

 more than three leaflets. 



Now choose between C and CC. Are the leaves 

 smooth on both sides or pubescent beneath? 

 (Pubescent means minutely hairy.) Look closely 

 at the leaf and run your finger over it. It is 

 smooth. 



Therefore your plant is one of three species, 

 Nos. 8, 9 or 10. It does not take long to read the 

 descriptions of these three species and to come to 

 the conclusion that the scientific name of your 

 sumach is Rhus glabra. 



With a little practice you can often determine 

 a name in two minutes with the aid of a key 

 which might take you half an hour if you had to 

 read sixteen descriptions arranged in alphabetical 

 order, even if the alphabetic descriptions were 

 contrasted. 



To comprehend a genus. 



Suppose now that you veish to understand a 

 large and complicated group in the shortest pos- 

 sible time. You know enough about lupines to 

 pique your curiosity ; you want to know how 

 many species there are in cultivation, what they 

 are good for and which ones you would like to 

 grow. 



Consult Lupinus and in the usual place (under 

 the index) you find a key to twenty species. 

 Observe A and AA. There are eight species of 

 perennials and twelve of annuals. This shows 

 at once that there are two cultural groups — a 

 point of great value to the gardener. This bit of 

 information alone justifies a key. 



Now compare B and BB under A and you will 

 see that one species is a shrub while the other 

 seven jierennials are herbs. 



Compare C and CC and j'ou learn the interest- 

 ing fact that in a certain species the leaflets are 

 reduced to one. 



Under AA, compare B, BB and BBB, and you 

 will see that the twelve annual species can be 

 thrown into three groups based on color. The 

 surprisingly wide color range among lupines thus 

 conies to light. 



