Ixii INTRODUCTION 



Then follow the generic character, a paragraph of remarks, an 

 analytical key of species, and occasional memoranda on exotic culti- 

 vated species, all in the same form as in the case of the families. 



Each species commences with the name, consisting, both in Latin 

 and in English, of two words. In Latin, the first word indicates the 

 genus, the second the species ; and the name is generally followed by 

 the indication, in abbreviation, of the botanist who first fixed the name 

 for the species in question. In these abbreviations, Linn, stands for 

 Linnaeus ; Br. for Robert Brown ; DC. for De Candolle ; Sm. for Sir James 

 Smith. Other names are usually abbreviated by giving the first syllable 

 with the first letter of the second syllable, as Hook, for Hooker. In 

 English, the first word indicates the species, the second the genus ; but 

 both must be used in naming the plant, excepting in cases where the 

 only word is a popular name applied to no other plant. 



After the name a reference is given in a parenthesis to the figure of 

 the species in a companion volume of wood engravings and dissections, 

 entitled " Illustrations of the British Flora" (drawn by the late W. H. 

 Fitch and W. G. Smith) ; which engravings, &c., were inserted in the 

 second edition of the Handbook, but now appear in a separate form. 

 After the description of the species a reference is given to any name or 

 names, different from the one here adopted, under which the species 

 may be described in other works descriptive of British plants. Thus, 

 under Brassica muralis, p. 36, " Diplotaxis muralis, DC. ; B. brevipes, 

 Byrne," means that the plant is described as a Diplotaxis in the 

 "Student's British Flora," and as Brassica brevipes by Dr. Syme, in the 

 new edition of " English Botany." 



The next paragraph contains : 1st. The indication of the geographical 

 area of the species. This has only been done in a very general manner, 

 and more especially with regard to its distribution in countries the 

 nearest to Britain ; for it would have been quite foreign to the purpose 

 of this work to attempt to fix, with any precision, the limits of the areas 

 remote from Britain. Generally speaking, the species indicated as ex- 

 tending to southern Europe penetrate more or less into Africa; if 

 reaching the Caucasus, they often advance more or less into Persia and 

 Arabia, &c. 2nd. The distribution in Britain. This is also given in 

 general terms, the object being to give the reader some indication 

 whether the species to which he refers the plant is likely to have been 

 found growing in the places indicated. Directions to precise localities 

 occupy too much space for any but very local Floras or Botanists' 

 Guide-Books. Exceptions are of course made for plants only known 

 in a single locality. In all these indications Britain is meant to include 

 Ireland. The Channel Island plants are only mentioned when they are 

 not also found on the main British Isles. 



These stations are followed, in the same paragraph, by the period of 

 flowering, printed in italics. The season is generally given rather than 

 the month, as the flowering of plants always varies with the season. 

 A spring flower which may appear in the beginning of March in a 

 favoured situation on the south coast of England may not open till 

 May in the Highlands of Scotland. These periods of flowering, de- 

 rived from personal observation or from the best sources I had to hand, 

 must, however, be taken with considerable allowance, for they are liable 

 to much variation, according to local or temporary influences j and at 



