6 AN INTRODUCTION 
Its Ufe is the fame as that of the Calyx, 
ferving as an inner Work of Defence, for 
the Parts it inclofes, as the Calyx, which is 
ufually of fronger Texture, does for an 
outer one. 
The Leaves of which the Corolla confifts 
are called Petals ; by which Appellation they: 
are conveniently diftinguifhed from the green 
Leaves of the Plant with which they might 
elfe be confounded*. The Petal is defined 
‘by Linne@us asa corollaceous Covering to the 
Flower, meaning that it enclofes and pro- 
tects 
* Petal (in the Greek aetarov) fignifies Leaves in ge- 
neral; but there being another Greek Word (Quarov) 
nearly of the fame Signification, the modern Botanifts 
have borrowed this to exprefs the Leaves of the Flower. 
The Ancients feem to have had no diftin& Term in Ufe 
to exprefs this Part of the Fructification. Thus Virgil, 
in defcribing his 4mellus, which is a Species of After, 
the Flower of which has a yellow Middle, and purple 
Rays, calls it a golden Flower, furrounded with purple 
Leaves. 
Aureus ipfe (Flos) fed in foliis, que plurima circum 
Funduntur, viole fublucet purpura nigra. 
George. IV. 
This loofe expreflion, which is chargeable rather on 
the Language than the Poet, has mifled all its Tranfla- 
tors ; as is rightly obferved by Martin, in his Note on 
this Paffage. May and Addifon make the real Leaves 
of the Plant purple. 
For from one Root he fpreads a Wood of Boughs, 
Whofe many LEAVES, altho’ the Flower be-gold, 
Black Violets dimme purple Color hold. May.. 
The 
