PREFACE. XI 



dertaken this task of explanation, as I pro- 

 pose to advert more fully, than has hitherto 

 been attempted, to the subject of natural af- 

 finities, in my intended Flora, which has so 

 long been promised to the British reader, in 

 his own language. A work of this kind, found- 

 ed on actual observation, is indeed requisite, 

 instead of the various compilations of com- 

 pilations, with which those who cannot read 

 Latin have hitherto been obliged to rest sa- 

 tisfied. Some exposition of this kind must 

 have accompanied that work, to render it in- 

 telligible ; and it will be still more commo- 

 dious for the student to become previously 

 initiated, and to take a general view of the 

 subject, before his attention can be directed 

 to particulars. 



The eighth chapter begins with an index, 

 or key, to Jussieu's Classes, and an enume- 

 ration of his Orders. In the sequel each Or- 

 der is given in it's place, with the full cha- 

 racter, translated from the Genera Plantarum 

 of Jussieu. His descriptions and observations 

 are every where marked by inverted commas, 

 occasional corrections or remarks, intermixed 

 with his text, being inclosed between brack- 



