DICOTYLEDONE^E. 63 



of frost, and whether affecting- dry ground or marshy 

 places. 



Special habit. Whether leafless, or having- leaves, 

 whether these are deciduous in the first, or second, 

 or persisting- for several years. In manner of growth, 

 whether prostrate, spreading, or erect ; and whether 

 the fruit be enclosed in a capsule, siliqua, legume, 

 berry, pome, drupe, nut, or cone. 



Duration. Whether perfect in one, two, three, 

 or in many years. 



The above generalities will be more particularly 

 adverted to in the sequel, and the plants named, in 

 which these properties or distinctions are exemplified. 

 The lowest grade of the woody dicotyledon ese are 

 Empetrece, being low inconspicuous shrubs, natives 

 of northern latitudes. 



The Conifer ce form one of the most imposing orders ; 

 their value in the scheme of creation for the pur- 

 pose of shelter to animals, and ornament to the most 

 bleak and barren regions of the earth ; their combus- 

 tible properties in cold climates ; the great quantity 

 and preservative qualities of their resinous juice, 

 yielding extracts highly useful in medicine and in 

 the arts; the easy convertibility of their timber to 

 the purposes of the builder and mechanic, render 

 this order one of the most important of vegetable 

 productions. 



Although, from the congruity of habit, hue, and 

 predominating qualities of the Coniferte, they form a 

 very natural group, yet there are among them great 

 constitutional differences. In some of the genera, as 



