DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS. J 73 



lip. Anthers innate, 2-lobed ; lobes superposed, oblong, blackish, introrse, 

 dehiscing longitudinally; connective covered with white hairs. Pollen 

 yellowish white. Ovary small, truncate, 4-lobed, 4-celled, encircled at 

 the base by a pale green, cup-like disk. Ovules solitary in each cell, aua- 

 tropal. Style single, basilar, thread-like, as long as the corolla, termi- 

 nating in a 2-lobed stigma ; lobes of the stigma short, oblong, pointed. 

 Fruit of four (or fewer by abortion), 1-celled, 1-seeded, indehiscent, blackish 

 shining lobes or achenes. Seeds solitary, erect, inverted, exalbuminous. 

 Embryo straight ; cotyledons large, plano-convex ; radicle short, inferior. 



Such descriptions are now usually given in a modern language 

 when occurring in works descriptive of the plants of particular 

 countries and intended for general use, &c. In general systematic 

 works, or in isolated notices, published in periodicals or Transactions, 

 addressed more particularly to proficients, the Latin language is 

 usually preferred, as it is understood by botanists of all nations and 

 is less vague in its application. 



Detailed descriptions are commonly given only where new spe- 

 cies are established, or when an uncertain nomenclature is to be 

 made clear and definite, in a monographic or a general systematic 

 work. The classification of plants into genera, families, &c., in the 

 Natural System, renders the repetition of the peculiar marks of 

 these groups unnecessary in the characterization of the subordinate 

 groups or forms. For this reason, characters and diagnoses com- 

 monly replace the complete descriptions of species in ordinary 

 descriptive botanical works, since, as the character of the genus 

 includes those peculiarities of the floral organs which are common 

 to all its species, and which constitute the bases of the genus, it is 

 only requisite to connect with each species the character by which 

 that species is distinguished from others. 



The following condensed description of the white Dead-Nettie, from 

 Bentham's l Handbook of the British Flora,' will show how, when the cha- 

 racters of the order and genus are known, a faithful portrait of the species, 

 and one comprising the most conspicuous features only, may be drawn up: 

 " A rather coarse hairy perennial, with a shortly creeping stock, and decum- 

 bent or ascending branching stems, seldom above a foot high. Leaves 

 stalked, coarsely crenate. Flowers pure white, in close axillary whorls of 

 6-10 or more. "Calyx-teeth fine, long, and spreading. Tube of the corolla 

 curved upwards, and longer than the calyx, with an oblique contraction 

 near the base, corresponding with a ring of hairs inside; the upper lip 

 long and arched ; the lateral lobes of the lower one slightly prominent, 

 with a long fine tooth." Then follows an account of the station in which 

 the plant is found, and of its geographical distribution throughout this 

 country and the continent. 



Value of Characters. Having gained a general idea of what points 

 are to be looked to in drawing up a description of a plant, and having ac- 

 quired a familiarity with the meaning and application of terms, it is par- 

 ticularly desirable that the student should be able to form an estimate of 

 the relative value and importance of characters for practical purposes ; for 



