Vi PREFACE. 



or even thoroughly naturalized. The attempt to do this 

 is necessary for two seemingly contradictory reasons, 

 namely : the great tendency of many collectors to consider 

 native any plant found growing upon a spot where it is 

 not cultivated ; and the peculiar scepticism of some of our 

 "botanists concerning the claims of many local or thinly 

 scattered species to be admitted as indigenous, even when 

 their distribution upon the European continent is not un- 

 favourable to the belief that they may inhabit Britain. It 

 has been recommended that the descriptions of these ex- 

 cluded species should be placed in an Appendix or even 

 omitted ; but as some of them are not unlikely to be observed 

 by collectors, it is more convenient that they should be 

 arranged with their allies. Those who desire to obtain a 

 complete knowledge of the distribution of our plants should 

 consult Watson's Cybele Britannica, and Moore & More's 

 Oybele Hibernica. 



Full characters of the Natural Orders are to be found in 

 most of the best ' Introductions to Botany ' ; and it has 

 therefore not been considered advisable to give them in 

 detail in the present volume. In his definitions, the Author 

 has endeavoured to point out the characteristic marks, more 

 especially as far as British plants are concerned. 



In using this book the student will find it convenient to 

 pay attention to the italicized parts of the generic and spe- 

 cific characters, and, if they are found to agree with the plant 

 under examination, then to compare it with the other parts 

 of those characters, and also with those of allied genera and 

 species. 



It is most desirable that the students of our native flora 

 should not confine their attention to books published in this 

 country. Owing to such an unavoidable restriction we fell 

 far behind our continental brethren during the earlier part 

 of the present century. A few modern works may be 



