TO BOTANY. 143 



burnum, Rhus, Tamarix, Hedera, Erica, Malpighia, 

 Lavatera, Solanum, Asclepias, Ruta, Geranium, Pe- 

 tiveria, Pereskia, Cupressus, Thuya and Sabina. 



In cold countries there are but few plants without 

 buds; and in hot countries but few that have any. 



CHAP. X. 

 OF THE HABIT OF PLANTS. 



BY the HABIT, or external face of plants, is to be 

 understood a certain conformity between vegetables 

 that belong to the same genus, or are near of kin to 

 each other*. This conformity may be in respect to 

 various circumstances ; as Placentation, Radication, 

 Ramification, Intorsion, Gemmation, Foliation, Sti- 

 pulation, Pubescence, Glandulation, Lactescence, 

 Inflorescence, c. As each of the terms here enu- 

 merated will furnish us with a separate chapter, we 

 shall forbear the explanation of them in this. 



* This definition of the habit of plants, which we hate ta- 

 ken from the Philosophia Botaniea, seems to agree better with 

 the old state of botany, when plants were actually ranged ac- 

 cording to their external face, than with the modern system 

 that ranges them by the fructification : For plants that by the 

 system are neither of the same .genus, nor have any systematic 

 affinity, will often have a great conformity in their habit ; 

 whilst those of the same genus shall have their habits distinct. 

 The habit of plants was the invention of the earlier botanists, 

 who knew no better rule for the distribution of vegetables : 

 And indeed Linnaeus himself is induced to admit that it is often 

 a good guide : and that Caspar Bauhin and others had in 

 many cases discovered the affinity of plants by the habit, when 

 systematists had failed in attempting the same by their artifi- 

 cial rules : nor does he think even the fructification, which is 

 the invention of the moderns, sufficient for detecting all the 

 classes of vegetables, though he considers it as the primary 

 guide to the natural method so much sought after by those who 

 Have cultivated this science, 



