INTRODUCTION. 



nectary, and six petals ; but our plant has six petals only, 

 and no such bell-shaped nectary. The circumstance of three 

 inner petals, shorter and notched at the end, is sufficiently 

 observable in our specimen, and clearly distinguish it from 

 the Leucojum; it agrees only with the Galanthus. The generic 

 character answers the description ; and the three inner and 

 shorter petals may be considered as a nectary. As there is 

 but one species, it must therefore be the Galanthus Nivalis 

 of Linneus, or common Snowdrop. 



PEAR. Pyrus. 



Finding about twenty stamina in each flower, we know it 

 must belong either to the twelfth or thirteenth classes. In 

 the twelfth, or Icosandria class, the number of stamina alone 

 will not sufficiently distinguish it from the classes Dodecandria 

 and Polyandria ; but as the calix is formed of a single con- 

 cave leaf, the petals fixed to the sides of the calix, and the 

 stamina do not stand upon the receptacle, we conclude that 

 it belongs to that class. Each flower having five pistilla, we 

 look for the genus under the order Pentagynia. This order 

 contains six genera. The calix being cloven into five parts, 

 and the blossoms being composed of five petals, are circum- 

 stances common to three. But the fruit of one is a berry 

 containing five seeds, and the fruit of another is a pomum or 

 apple, with five cells- and many seeds. Hence it appears, 

 that our plant is undoubtedly the Pyrus ; and turning to the 

 generic description, we are confirmed in this opinion. We 

 next compare it with the twenty-four species, and are soon 

 able to determine whether we have got the Pyrus Communis 

 or the Pyrus Malus; i. e. the Pear or the Apple. 



CROWFOOT. Ranunculus. 



The beautiful shining yellow blossoms of Crowfoot, and 

 the frequency of it in pastures in the months of June and 

 July, will probably attract our notice, especially as cattle leave 

 it untouched, even when the pasture is bare. We therefore 

 collect some of it, and finding a great number of stamina in 

 each blossom, refer it to the thirteenth or Polyandria class, 

 the stamina of which stand upon the receptacle, and not 

 upon the cup or blossom. As this must be the class, we next 

 examine the pistilla, and finding them more than can readily 

 be counted, turn to the order Polygynia. This order includes 

 twenty-one genera. Upon an accurate examination we ob- 

 serve a little pore or nectary within the claw of each petal ; 

 and governed also by a number of leaves forming the cup, 

 and of petals composing the blossom, we turn to the generic 

 description of the Ranunculus. Quite satisfied about the 

 genus, we observe the species are numerous, and arranged 

 according as the leaves are divided or not divided. In our 

 specimen the leaves are divided. We then compare it with 

 each of the species ; and from its open or expanded calix, its 

 cylindrical fruit-stalks, its leaves with three divisions, many 

 clefts, &c. find it to be the upright Crowfoot, cr Ranunculus 

 Acris of Linneus. 



WALL-FLOWER. Cheiranthus. 



This plant is very generally known. It grows wild upon 

 old walls, and is frequently cultivated in gardens. Carefully 

 remove the calix and the petals, and you will find six stamina, 

 two of which are shorter than the other four. It therefore 

 belongs to the fiteenth class, or Tetradynamia. The orders 

 of this class depend upon the form of the seed-vessel ; and 

 after examining the specimen, you necessarily refer it to the 



first subdivision of the second order; for the seed-vessel' 

 is a long pod, and the leaves of the cup stand upright, and 

 close to the blossom. It is possible you may have to dissect 

 several flowers, before you can ascertain the genus ; for this 

 class, like the preceding, is composed of a natural assemblage 

 of plants, whose flowers bear a strong resemblance to each 

 other ; and the differences, when this is the case, ate not very 

 obvious. At length, however, the small glandular substance 

 on each side the base of the germen, determines you to refer 

 it to Cheiranthus. Upon a comparison with the generic 

 description, you find it corresponds ; and the shape of the 

 leaves, &c. puts it beyond all doubt, that it is the Wall July- 

 flower, or Cheiranthus Cheiri of Linneus. 



DANDELION. Leontodon. 



This plant is in blossom during great part of the spring and 

 summer ; it grows in pastures, road-sides, and the unculti- 

 vated parts of gardens. At the first view we perceive its 

 structure to be very different from any we have ever examined 

 before ; we hardly know what to call stamina, or what pis- 

 tilla. The fact is this, it is a true COMPOUND FLOWER, or a 

 flower formed of a number of little flowers (or florets) sitting 

 upon one common receptacle, and inclosed by one common 

 calix. Separating one of the florets, and examining it care- 

 fully, we find five stamina, with the antherse united, and the 

 pistil passing through the cylinder formed by the union of 

 the antherse. We therefore refer it to the nineteenth or Syn- 

 genesia class : finding that all the florets are furnished with 

 stamina and pistilla, we perceive that it belongs to the first 

 order. From the shape of the blossoms of the florets, which 

 are all long and narrow, we know that we must look in the 

 first subdivision of that order. Perceiving that the recep- 

 tacle is an important circumstance in the character of "com- 

 pound flowers, we pull off all the florets in one of the flowers, 

 and expose the receptacle to view. We find it naked, that 

 is, not beset with chaffy or bristly substances. We find too 

 a sort of down adhering to the seeds ; and observe the scales 

 of the calix laid one over another, like the tiles on a roof; 

 the outer scales loose, flexible, and turned back. These 

 characters corresponding pretty well with the Leontodon, wu 

 fix upon that as the genus ; we look forward to the generic 

 description, where we are informed, th'at in the Leontodon 

 Taraxacum, the down of the seed is supported on a long 

 pedicle, which we had already remarked in the flower before 

 us. We next read the characters of the different species ; 

 and, from the deep notches in the leaves, judge our plant 

 to be the Leontodon Taraxacum of Linneus, or common 

 Dandelion. 



MILK-VETCH. Astragalus. 



This genus is very common every where in Great Britain. 

 Examining a specimen of it when in flower, we immediately 

 collect from the papilionaceous, or butterfly-shaped blos- 

 soms, that it must belong to the Decandria order of the 

 Diadelphia class of plants. In referring to the Linnean 

 classification of the plants in this order, we find that there are 

 not fewer than six grand subdivisions. Our plant cannot 

 belong to the two first, because in the former all the stamina 

 are united, and in the latter the stigma is pubescent ; nor 

 with the three last, which consist of plants with the legume 

 mostly one-celled, without the marks of the two first subdi- 

 visions ; of plants with the loment separating into joints ; and 

 of plants with the legume one-celled and many-seeded. Our 

 plant having a two-celled legume, without the marks of the 



