PREFACE 



Since the publication of this elementary work, the science of which it treats 



has been introduced, as a study, into many of our principal female schools ; and 



in the various applications for teachers, from different parts of the country, an 



acquaintance with Botany is now often made an indispensable qualification. 



The four different editions which have been issued having been disposed of, 



^.the author and publisher are encouraged to spare neither labour nor expense in 



;;v rendering this fifth edition of the Lectures more worthy of that approbatiou 



t> which the public has so liberally bestowed. In compliance with the request of 



"^ many teachers, the " Descriptions of Genera and Species," are now made to 



' include all those native and foreign plants which the pupil will be likely to meet 



^^ with in any part of the United States. We except many of the Cryptogamous 



'V plants. Grasses, and some species of the Aster, Solidago, and other genera, where 



'^■J.he species are numerous, and the distinctions between them of a doubtful char- 



^ acter. The author has been anxious not to omit southern and western plants of 



^' any interest, as the work is so extensively use-^ in those regions. Should teach- 



* ers or students observe such omissions communications on the subject made to 



rj the author or publisher, would be gratefully received. 



:^ In the first edition, the Descriptions of Genera and Species were limited to a 

 few of our most common plants. These, by the permission of Professor Eaton, 

 ^ were taken verbatim from his " Manual of Botany." The author has now 

 y thoroughly revised the Descriptions of Plants; for the numerous additions made, 

 ' , she is indebted to several American works, especially to the " Botany of the 

 ^ Northern and Middle States," by Dr. Beck, and also to the Descriptions of Tor- 

 rey, Bigelow, and Elliot. For foreign plants, Eaton's Manual, Withering's 

 Q British Plants, Loudon's Encyclopedias, and some other works, have been con- 

 Q suited. 



Jo The name of the Natural Order is connected with the name of each genus 

 ■o under the head of Descriptions of Species ; indeed, the subject of the natural 

 ■^"^ affinities of plants is kept in view through the whole work, although the artificial 

 system is considered by the author as the groundwork of botanical knowledge. 

 V. The origin of the generic name is also given, as fjar as this could be ascertained 

 .. Ttitb any degree of certainty. 



