INTRODUCTION. 



REED. Arundo. 



The Reed is plentiful upon the banks of rivers, on borders 

 of pools, and in wet ditches ; it is a sort of large grass, five or 

 six feet high, and flowers in June. Having gathered a spe- 

 cimen of this, we proceed to examine it systematically. At 

 first sight we observe that the flowers grow in panicles, and 

 that each flower contains three stamina. We therefore refer 

 it to the third or Triandria class, which is divided into three 

 orders, depending upon the number of pistilla. Each of the 

 flowers contains two pistilla, and therefore belongs to the 

 order Digynia. This order is subdivided into several parts. 

 The first subdivision contains the plants with flowers scattered, 

 or irregularly disposed, one only in the calix. Our plant 

 agrees with the first circumstance, but not with the last, for 

 we find five flowers in each calix. Another subdivision con- 

 tains only two flowers in a calix ; we therefore pass that over, 

 and come to the third with scattered flowers, and several 

 in each calix. Before we proceed further, we just look at 

 the remaining subdivision, but finding those flowers in the 

 form of a 'Spike, or a long and slender receptacle, we imme- 

 diately recur to the third subdivision. This subdivision con- 

 tains several genera, and we compare the characters of each 

 with the plant in hand : the want of an awn, and the woolliness 

 at the base of the blossoms, determines ns to call it Arundo. 

 Turning therefore to the genus Arundo, we compare it accu- 

 rately with the generic description, and find it correspond 

 with it. But as the parts constituting the flowers of grasses 

 are frequently very minute, we make use of the botanical 

 microscope and dissecting instrument,* to display them more 

 clearly to the eye. Having discovered it to be an Arundo or 

 Reed, we next proceed to ascertain the species. There are 

 four only natives of Great Britain; and each calix containing 

 five florets upon a flexible panicle, which is observed to be 

 waved about with every wind, decides that it is the common 

 Reed, or Arundo Phragmites of Linneus. 



PLANTAIN. Plantago. 



The Plantain flowers in June and July, and is very common 

 in mowing grass, and upon the road-side. It is frequently stuck 

 in the cages of linnets and canary birds, who are fond of the 

 seeds. Examining a specimen of this, we find each flower to 

 contain four stamina nearly of the same length ; it therefore 

 belongs to the fourth or Tetrandria class. This class contains 

 four orders, depending upon the number of pistilla. Each of 

 our flowers contains only one pistil, and therefore belongs to 

 the first order, which admits of twelve subdivisions. Our 

 specimen presents blossoms of one petal, fixed beneath the 

 germen : this induces us to seek it in the fourth subdivision ; 

 and finding, by cutting across the seed-vessel, that it is 

 divided into two cells.f we conclude that it is a Plantago. 

 We now compare it with the generic description, and as that 

 agrees, try next to determine the species. There are thirty- 

 five species of Plantain ; these are subdivided into plantains 

 with naked scapes, and those furnished with a stem. Our 

 plant has a naked scape, and therefore belongs to the first 

 subdivision. It agrees with the Plantago Lanceolata in 

 every particular; and hence we call it the Ribwort Plantain, 

 or Plantago Lanceolata of Linneus. 



The botanical microscope, and dissecting instruments, may be purchased 

 for about two guineas. The microscope is of a form snited to the pocket, 

 and is also made to stand steady while in use. 



t To judge whether capsule consists of one or more cells, the bet method 



BIRCH. Betula. 



This tree is very generally known. The flowers are dis- 

 posed in catkins, which appear in April and May. Some of 

 these catkins contain only stamina with their scales, and others 

 on the same tree only pistilla. In the former, each floret 

 contains four stamina, and in the latter two pistilla. These 

 agree with the twenty-first or Moncecia class, and with the 

 order Tetrandria, which contains twelve genera. Attention 

 to the other parts of the character, and a comparison with 

 the generic description, will determine it to be of the Betula 

 genus, which having fifteen species, the shape of the leaves 

 will prove the specimen to be the common Birch-tree, or 

 Betula Alba of Linneus. 



HONEYSUCKLE. Lonicera. 



This plant is common in our hedge-rows, and is very univer- 

 sally known : but let us suppose a person, who never saw it 

 before, struck with the beauty and fragrance of its blossoms, 

 carrying a piece of it home for examination. Finding five 

 stamina in each flower, and the antherae not united, he 

 refers it to the fifth or Pentandria class. The orders in that 

 class being determined by the number of pistilla, he knows it 

 belongs to the order Monogynia, for he finds only one pistil 

 in each flower. This order is subdivided into eleven parts. 

 The absence of the/cmr naked seeds, and the ROUGH LEAVES, 

 immediately determine him to reject the third subdivision. 

 The blossom being fixed beneath, the germen, does not corre- 

 spond with his flower; hence he rejects the fourth and fifth 

 subdivisions, and passes on to the sixth, where he finds flowers 

 of one petal superior. This flower consists of one petal, and 

 this petal is fixed superior to, or above, the germen. This 

 subdivision containing many genera, he observes in his plant 

 the seed-vessel is a berry with two cells ; this circumstance, 

 added to the equality of the blossom, and the knob at the top 

 of the pistil, induces him to think it a Lonicera, which, upon 

 comparing the flower with the generic description, he finds 

 to be correct. Under this genus he finds twenty species ; he 

 compares it with the specific character of each, and thereby 

 determines it to be the Woodbine Honeysuckle, or Lonicera 

 Periclymanum of Linneus. 



SNOWDROP. Galanthus. 



The Snowdrop, though not frequent in a wild state, is to 

 be found in almost every garden, and is among the first of 

 our spring flowers. When we examine it attentively, the first 

 thing that strikes us, is the want of a cup; but instead of 

 that, we find upon the fruitstalk a sheathing substance, which 

 covers the blossom in its infant state. The six stamina direct 

 us to the sixth or Hexandria class, and the single pistil fixes 

 it upon the first order of that class. This order is subdivided 

 into, 1. Flowers with a cup and blossom. 2. Flowers with 

 calix, corolla, or spathe. 3. Flowers with a sheath or husk. 

 4. Flowers naked. 5. Flowers without petals- The want of 

 a cup, and the presence of the sheath, teach us to expect it in 

 the third subdivision, which contains several genera. In the 

 Allium, the blossom is fixed beneath the germen, but in our 

 plant it is above it. In the Narcissus there is a bell-shaped 



is, tc cut it through horizontally with a sharp knife, then carefully to pick out 

 the seeds, leaving the dividing membranes entire. If it he very minute, cut off 

 a thin slice hcrizontally, place iton the stage of the microscope, view it through 

 the magnifier, and at the came time dissect it with the instrument. 



