X NEW SPECIES, VABIETIES AND NAMES 



USE OF KEYS. 



To those not acquainted with the use of botanical keys, a few hints 

 may be of value. Suppose we have gone into the woods and found a 

 plant whose name we would like to ascertain. We first turn to the key 

 to the families at the beginning of the book and find there two lines be- 

 ginning equally far out. We must choose between these two lines, one of 

 which says "plants without flowers or seeds" and the other "plants with 

 flowers and seeds. ' ' We perceive that our plant has both flowers and seeds 

 and so select the second division. Under this, but a little indented, are 

 two lines beginning equally far out. Our plant agrees with the second 

 under which, again, are two lines to select from and again we take the 

 second line. Here we are referred to "II " Glancing down the page, 

 this figure soon meets the eye. In the same manner as before we proceed 

 to select " B," and going on as before we at last find that our plant be- 

 longs to the Portulacaceae found on page 85. Turning to page 85 we com- 

 pare our plant with the family description, and then if all is correct take 

 up the key to the genera. Out of the three genera No. 2 or Claytonia 

 agrees with our plant. Turning to No. 2, we read generic and specific 

 description, and, finding that both descriptions agree, conclude that our 

 plant is Claytonia Virginica or Spring Beauty. By a similar use of the 

 keys scattered through the work — but always commencing with the 

 family key — any plant occurring with us may be traced and named. If 

 a genus has more than one species represented, the key at the beginning 

 of the genus must be used to name the species. 



NEW SPECIES, VAEIETIES AND NAMES. 



The authors feel that quite a few of the genera and families recognized 

 in this work could be split up with great advantage to the student and to 

 a proper understanding of systematic botany, but they think that work 

 of this character should be left to a book of a more extended scope than 

 this, and so have not attempted it here. Likewise there are several forms 

 of plants growing in our territory, which we have not named, owing to 

 insufficient knowledge of them at present. Some of our plants we thought 

 deserved recognition and these we have indicated as new. 



A list of the new species, varieties and names given in this work is as 

 follows, the authors being Mackenzie and Bush, except as otherwise in- 

 dicated : 



1. Pellaea atropurpurea JBnshii Mackenzie, p. 5. 



2. Echinodorus cordifoUus lanceolatus (Engelm.), p. 10. 



3. Muhlenbergia polyaiachya, p. 23. 



4. Hystrix elymoides, p. 39. 



5. Iriafoliosa, p. 63. 



