Vlll PREFACE. 



description exceed the bounds of convenience and overstep the limit of human 

 power and endurance. I have therefore placed a check upon this also, and, once 

 for all, I will say in answer to possible claims, that every word in this book has 

 had a previous author, printer, and publisher. I hope that I have as a rule referred 

 sufficiently to fundamental works : still it may be emphatically stated that the chief 

 sources and foundations of my work were the writings of Mohl, Nageli, Sanio, 

 Th. Hartig, and in the latest times of van Tieghem, although in some cases I may 

 have omitted to cite them expressly. I presuppose a knowledge of the Text-book 

 of Sachs. When this is quoted, and no further information is given, the fourth 

 edition is always meant. 



The old Literature is only cited when absolutely necessary, since it lies outside 

 the purpose before us, to write a history of the anatomy of plants. In Sachs' History 

 of Botany, Treviranus' Physiology, and Meyen's Phytotomy and System of Vegetable 

 Physiology, the reader will find what is wanting here. 



The plan and course of description are more exactly indicated in the Intro^ 

 duction. The book deals in the first place with the actual mature structure of 

 the higher plants, and touches upon the history of development only by way of 

 assistance. We do not thereby ignore the fact that the description of the mature 

 condition must necessarily be based upon the history of development, since that 

 which is termed mature is nothing more than a further advanced part of the whole 

 course of development of the individual. It must therefore always be referred as 

 a matter of course to earlier stages of development, and be coupled with them. 

 But it was the more the object of this work to put that stage of development 

 which is called mature to the fore, since the present overruling preference foi the 

 earlier stages has often brought it about that in the ' voir venir,' the things them- 

 selves, which are to be produced, are neglected. 



I know only too well how far the book falls short of the object indicated in 

 the title. The name ' Vorarbeiten,' or 'Prodromus,' of a comparative anatomy 

 would better correspond to the result. That title was only rejected for shortness,' 

 sake, and on the consideration that every work should be the predecessor of a 

 better. 



Most of the figures were drawn by the author on wood, from nature. In case 

 of those copied and borrowed from other books the source is given in each case, 

 I am specially thankful to my respected colleague Sachs for the permission to use 

 the woodcuts of his Text-book, and I should have made still further use of them 

 had not a number of the figures here given been already cut before the earlier 

 editions of the Text-book appeared. I may offer this expression of thanks without 

 presumption not only in the name of the author, but also in that of the reader. 

 Also in the name of both I may add thanks to Dr. von Rostafinsky of Krakau, who 

 has constructed the index of names. 



A. DE BARY. 



Strassburg, June 15, 1877. 



