PREFACE. 



The illustrations contained in this volume were drawn, with the 

 few exceptions presently referred to, by W. H. P'itch, F.L.S. for 

 the original illustrated edition of Bentham's " Handbook of British 

 Flora." Since that edition was exhausted they have been issued 

 separately, forming a companion volume to the " Handbook " and 

 to other general, county and local Floras. Additional wood 

 engravings executed by W. G. Smith, F.L.S., have been incor- 

 porated from time to time illustrating additions to the Flora. 



The arrangement in the present edition follows that of the latest 

 edition of Bentham's " Handbook,'' edited by Sir Joseph Hooker, 

 but some new features have been introduced with the object of 

 increasing its usefulness. 



In place of the bare list of Natural Orders given in previous 

 editions, the moi-e extended "Arrangement of Natural Orders," 

 with some of their distinguishing characters, is reproduced from 

 the " Handbook," and this is preceded by descriptions of the 

 main divisions of classification. Those who have not made a 

 previous study of systematic botany may obtain from these a 

 general conception of the main principles upon which the arrange- 

 ment of the Natural Orders or Families is based. But until a 

 knowledge of the subject is acquired by practical observation, the 

 "Analytical Key to the Natural Orders and anomalous genera" 

 provided in the " Handbook" will be of more service in identifying 

 the Families to which plants are assigned, for the reason that this 

 " Analytical Key " is constructed from the more easily observed 

 characters, which are not necessarily those which determine the 

 systematic arrangement. 



In the body of the work the scientific names of the plants as 

 adopted in the latest edition of the " Handbook " are given first in 

 larger type. To these are now added in small type many of the 

 synonyms from other Floras and more recent Lists. Limitation of 

 space in the case of the larger woodcuts has made it necessary to 

 adopt a contracted form of indicating the specific name where it is 



