VI PREFACE. 



to him by the communication of valuable suggestions, ob- 

 servations, and specimens. 



The present edition has been carefully revised, so as, ii 

 possible, to keep pace with the rapidly advancing knowledge 

 of British plants ; the descriptions of several of the more 

 difficult groups, such as Hieracium and Carex, and the 

 whole Order Graminece, have been remodelled. 



In accordance with the wishes of several gentlemen who 

 have favoured the author with advice, many more English 

 names are inserted. All the genera coiild not be thus 

 named owing to the absence of any recognized English 

 terms that have been applied to them, or the several species 

 possessing different names. It does not seem desirable to 

 invent new names for the few genera that have them not, 

 the Latin name being usable in those cases. 



The portability of the volume being one of its most valu- 

 able qualities, it has been found impossible to accord to the 

 wishes of some young botanists by prefixing to it a short 

 Introduction to Botany, or a Glossary of botanical terms ; 

 since sufficient space could not have been afforded to them 

 to admit of their possessing that fulness and detail without 

 which they would be wor'se than useless. Students are 

 recommended to make themselves well acquainted with the 

 contents of some good introductory work, such as Balfour's 

 Class-Book of Botany, which contains a copious glossary ; 

 Henfrey's Outlines; or Gray's Botanical Text-Book; or 

 persons totally unacquainted with the science may advan- 

 tageously study Henfrey's Rudiments and Lindley's Ladies' 

 Botany. 



It is hoped that those who use this book will favour the 

 author with information of any (even the slightest) addi- 



