vi BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



In anotlier book, Flowers, Fruits, and Leaves, I 

 have dwelt on the structure and forms of plants, but 

 from a general point of view. 



In the present work I endeavour to supplement the 

 various excellent " Floras " which we already possess, 

 not in any way to compete with them : to describe 

 points of interest in the life -history of our British 

 plants ; to explain, as far as possible, the reasons for 

 the structure, form, and colour ; and to suggest some 

 of the innumerable problems which still remain for 

 solution. I have followed the arrangement adopted 

 in Bentham's Handbook of the British Flora, as being- 

 one in very general use. 



Dr. Eendle has been so kind as to see the proofs 

 through the press for me. This is a guarantee of 

 accuracy, and he has also made many valuable sugges- 

 tions. 



High Elms, Down, Kent, 

 Ootoher 5, 1905. 



