PREFACE. 



The original intention was to publish a key to the species of flower- 

 ing plants growing in the vicinity of Manhattan. With this in view full 

 descriptions of the fruits and seeds of each species were prepared, but it 

 was found that the cost of publication of so much matter was placed be- 

 yond what was anticipated. The work was therefore restricted to genera. 

 In the descriptions I have endeavored to give such characters as hold true 

 for the orders and genera as represented in the United States, exceptions 

 being neglected Characters which apply to our species but not neces- 

 sarily to the group in general, are placed in parentheses. 



The nomenclature is that used in the check list of plants of the 

 northeastern United States. 



No attempt at classification has been made here. A good working 

 classification is that given by Caruel in Bull. Soc. Bot France, xxxrrr, 

 120. I find that authors differ considerably in the terminology, es- 

 pecially in the definition of the capsule and its modifications. 



In the descriptions I have included under the term capsule, fruits 

 such as Cuscuta and Ammannnia which burst irregularly at maturity; 

 and have grouped under the term drupaceous the true drupe with one 

 carpel, and those forms which have more than one carpel, yet possess the 

 essential characters of a drupe, such as Cornus and Sambucus. There 

 are some fruits which are with difficulty placed in any classification e. g. 

 dry, indehisceut fruits with more than one cell or seed 



The Key is prepared for the use of beginners in botany and will be 

 used in connecton with a text book. 



A. S. H. 



