8 INTRODUCTION. 



Distinctions of Vegetables from height) places of 

 growth, $c.* 



I. From height and consistence. 



1. A tree, (arbor) a woody plant, generally rising- to a great 

 height and of long life, producing buds in cold climates. Exam- 

 ple, Oak, Pine 



2. A shrub, (Jrutex} a tree of small size whose young branches 

 generally produce buds. Ex. Lilac, Syringa. 



3 Under Shrub, (sufrutex) a woody plant which is usually 

 smaller than a shrub, and frequently produces no buds* Ex. Par- 

 tr id ge- berry, Gaultheria. 



4 Herb, (Jierb({) of a tender substance which dies down in 

 winter whether its roots be annual or perennial. Ex. Tulip, 



Observation. The difference between a tree and a shrub is dif- 

 ficult to define, although obvious enough to the sight in many in- 

 stances ; the trunk of a tree is usually single, of a shrub, more 

 frequentfy numerous even from the base. 



II. Distinctions from the country in which they grow* 



1. Exotics, (ezoticci) plants introduced from foreign countries. 



2. Indigenous, (indigen*) natives of the country in which they 

 grow. 



III. Places where they naturally grow. 



In trodden places, (ruderales.) In fields, (arvenses.) Ex. Ve- 

 ronica arvensis. In gardens, (cufla.) In or Lear water, (aquatfaai) 

 aquatics. In marshes, (pahtdosa ) Ex. Scirpi. On the borders 

 of rivers, (littorales) Ex. Rushes. On the sea-shore, (maritime ) 

 marine. In meadows, (pratenses.) On sands, {arenosa.) On 

 plains, (campestres.) In hedges, {dumosa: or &epiari<e<') In woods, 

 (iiemorostf.) On mountains, (nwnttin<e.') On very high mountains, 

 alpine (atpin<e.) So high as to be frequently enveloped in clouds. 

 THORNTON. 



Observation. It it^remarable that although plants in olher sit- 

 uations vary so much, yet the tops of high mountains which are in 

 the " region of the clouds** generally produce the same. Thus the 

 Alpine plants of England, Scotland, Wales, Lapland, firrerbnd, 

 Switzerland, Siberia, America, &c. ; of Olympus, Ararat, the Alps, 

 the Andes, Alleganies, and White Hills, although growing so re- 

 mote from each other, are all similar. Various zones of altitude 

 have each their peculiar productions ; so that the plants serve to 

 indicate the height of their place of growth. 



* These distinctions are not essential in the Linnsenn system, nml are introduced 

 here as a sort of parenthesis for the want of a more appropriate place. 



