INTRODUCTION. V 



Another word, little if at all used by botanists, though admitted by Linnaeus 

 into the ' Philosophia,' is parabolic. I have applied it chiefly to the divisions of 

 the calyx, when the somewhat curved sides and obtuse termination render the 

 word triangular improper ; and as these portions are not at all rounded at the 

 base, but gradually contracted from the bottom to the top, they cannot be con- 

 sidered as ovate. The term 'parabolic can only be applied to objects which rise 

 from a broad base, and not to a stalked leaf ; and I may add, what I believe is 

 not noticed in our glossaries, that the term subulate also implies an expanded 

 base, Linnseus defined subulate as linear below and tapering above; but I 

 believe in general it means a very narrow triangle. The leaves of TJlex europceus 

 are described as subulate, though they form nearly an equilateral triangle ; and if 

 they were placed on a stalk, instead of rising from the stem on their whole 

 width, they would be called triangular. By setaceous I understand a still nar- 

 rower triangle, and a finer point, than is the case in subulate. 



Acuminate is an extension of the membrane of the leaf ; mucronate, a pro- 

 longation of the midrib beyond the membrane ; cuspidate, a hardened ex- 

 tremity, arising sometimes from a combination of the nerves, sometimes from 

 a thickening and induration of the membrane ; but never a mere prolongation of 

 the midiib. This, I believe, is consonant to the general practice where the 

 terms are distinguished, but they are often confounded. I have adopted from 

 Palisot de Beauvais the difference of seta and awn, as far as I could distinguish 

 them. The latter is a prolongation of the midrib, differing from mucro only in 

 its greater length. The former comprehends all other lengthened points, and 

 those which, though connected with the midrib, separate from it readily. 



We frequently meet with the word Outline in botanical descriptions, denoting 

 the general form of a divided leaf, such as it would be if the interstices were 

 filled up. It sometimes happens that the divisions are so far separate as readily 

 to suggest the idea of a form produced by cutting them away. This I have 

 called Inline. 



Scaber and asper are very frequently confounded. I adopt the distinction 

 given me by a botanical friend. The blacksmith's hand, says he, is scaber ; his 

 chin in the latter part of the week is asper. 



Lineate (lineatus) seems to imply that the conspicuous veins branch from the 

 midrib in continued parallel lines. The term is not new, but it is not common. 

 Lindley considers it as synonymous with striate. 



Ciliate and fringed are closely allied ; but the first indicates a border of hairs ; 

 the latter, that the substance of the membrane is divided into narrow segments. 



Pubescent seems sometimes employed to denote hairy in any way, at other 

 times to correspond with downy. I understand it in the former sense. 



Withering adopted the word Cup, as the EngUsh of calyx ; I have sometimes 



