PREFACE. [ x 



tern of Jussieu, &c. That adopted is founded on the views of De Candolle, but 

 modified by those of Lindley, Gray, and others. The groups into which the 

 orders have been divided, are mainly those suggested by the two latter au- 

 thorities, but altered in some respects according to the views of the author. 



It only remains to notice the sources from which the information con- 

 tained in this work has been obtained. In the Introduction, much has been 

 derived from Gray's " Botanical Text-Book," Reid's " Medical Botany," and 

 Carpenter's " Vegetable Physiology." The Conspectus is principally founded 

 on the views of Lindley and Gray, from whom the characters of the groups 

 and orders have been adopted with certain modifications. In the main body 

 of the work, information has been gleaned from every available source, but 

 more especially from Lindley's " Medical Flora," and " Vegetable Kingdom," 

 Merat and De Lens's " Dictionnaire de Matiere Medicale," and also from the 

 " American Dispensatory," and the respective treatises of Ainslie, Royle, 

 Pereira, Dunglison, &c. As regards American Plants, the principal authorities 

 have been Bigelow, W. P. C. Barton, Rafinesque, &c. Much has also been 

 derived from the journals, and especially from the " American Journal of 

 Pharmacy," and the " American Journal of Medical Sciences." In most 

 cases it will be found that the authorities for the medical qualities ascribed to 

 the species are those of the writers quoted in the Botanical references ; where 

 this is not the case, the exact authority for a statement is expressly mentioned. 



The illustrations have been taken from the various works of Royle, Pereira, 

 Rafinesque, &c, with the addition of numerous others from the masterly 

 graver of Mr. Gilbert. 



Philadelphia, May 1st, 1847. 



