PREFACE. iY 
considered as aboriginal or even thoroughly naturalized. 
The attempt to do this is necessary for two seemingly con- 
tradictory reasons ; namely, the great tendency of many col- 
lectors to consider as native any plant found growing upon 
a spot where it is not cultivated ; and the peculiar scepti- 
cism of some of our botanists concerning the claims of many 
local or thinly scattered species to be considered as indige- 
nous, even when their distribution upon the European con- 
tinent is not unfavourable to the belief that they inhabit 
Britain. It has been recommended that the descriptions of 
these excluded species should be placed in an Appendix, but 
as some of them are not unlikely to be observed by collectors, 
it is more convenient that they should be arranged with 
their allies. Those who desire to obtain a complete know- 
ledge of the distribution of our plants should consult Wat- 
son’s Cybele Britannica. 
A very concise Synopsis of the genera, according to the 
Linnzean method, is given for the convenience of those bo- 
tanists who may not be quite familiar with the Natural 
Orders. 
Dr. Lindley’s Vegetable Kingdom being accessible to 
nearly all the readers of this little work, it has not been con- 
sidered advisable to introduce detailed descriptions of the 
Orders; but in the preparation of the short distinctive cha- 
racters the author has availed himself of that work, of Dr. 
Arnott’s elaborate treatise contained in the Encyclopedia 
Britannica, of Endlicher’s Genera Plantarum and Koch’s 
Synopsis Flore Germanice. To the latter work, which 
may be considered as the model of the present publication, 
he has pleasure in acknowledging himself to be peculiarly 
indebted. 
