PUEYACE. 



EVERY one, who has passed through the first struggle* 

 of a student in praciicrd botany, recollects the embarrass- 

 ments in which he was perpetually involved, by the multi- 

 tude of foreign genera contained in the European systems. — ■ 

 Doctor Bigelow's Boston Flora proves the very great relief 

 which is afforded to the student by a system of plants limit- 

 ed to his own particular district. But there is a middle way 

 in this as in other things. The northern section of the Uni- 

 ted States is sufficiently contracted for this object; and the 

 common cultivated exotics ought certainly to be included. 



Another obstacle to the progress of the student is the very 

 concise generic characters given in most of the works of thi^ 

 nature. If he sets out with the right class, is ltd to the 

 right order, and fixes at last upon the right genus, his work 

 is reduced to a manageable state. To guide him through 

 those tliree steps is the object of this Manual. To eftect 

 this with ease to the learner, the common English names, 

 the most srriking specific charac'-Crs, together with a few 

 popular references, and the natural orders of Linneus and 

 Jussieu, have been annexed to each generic description. 



The generic characters of the phenogamous plants are 

 translated from Persoon, and arranged principally upon his 

 method. Additions and corrections were made, hov.ever, on 

 comparing the translation with the systems of Linneus, 

 Pursh, Muhlenberg, Willdenow, Blgelov/,theHortas Kewen- 

 sis, the Encyclopedia, and the Synopsis of Amcricrui Genera, 



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