lxil INTRODUOTION. 
Then follow the generic character, a paragraph of remarks, an 
analytical key of species, and occasional memoranda on exotic culti- 
vated species, all in the same form as in the case of the families. 
Hach species commences with the name, consisting, both in Latin. 
and in English, of two words. In Latin, the first word indicates the 
genus, the second the species; and the name is generally followed by 
the indication, in abbreviation, of the botanist who first fixed the name 
for the species in question. In these abbreviations, Zinn. stands for 
Linneus; Br. for Robert Brown; DC. for De Candolle ; Sm. for Sir James 
Smith. Other names are usually abbreviated by giving the first syllable 
with the first letter of the second syllable, as Hook. for Hooker. In 
English, the first word indicates the species, the second the genus; but 
both must be used in naming the plant, excepting in cases where the 
_ only word is a popular name applied to no other plant. 
After the name a reference is given in a parenthesis to the figure of 
the species in a companion volume of wood engravings and dissections, 
entitled ‘‘ Illustrations of the British Flora” (drawn by the late W. H. 
Fitch and W. G. Smith) ; which engravings, &c., were inserted in the 
second edition of the Handbook, but now appear in a separate form. 
After the description of the species a reference is given to any name or 
names, different from the one here adopted, under which the species 
may be described in other works descriptive of British plants. Thus, 
under Brassica muralis, p. 36, “ Diplotaxis muralis, DC.; B. brevipes, 
Syme,” means that the plant is described as a Diplotaxis in the 
‘‘Student’s British Flora,” and as Brassica brevipes by Dr. Syme, in the 
new edition of “English Botany.” 
The next paragraph contains : Ist. The indication of the geographical 
area of the species. This has only been done in a very general manner, 
and more especially with regard to its distribution in countries the 
nearest to Britain ; for it would have been quite foreign to the purpose 
of this work to attempt to fix, with any precision, the limits of the areas 
remote from Britain. Generally speaking, the species indicated as ex- 
tending to southern Europe penetrate more or less into Africa; if 
reaching the Caucasus, they often advance more or less into Persia and 
Arabia, &c. 2nd, The distribution in Britain. This is also given in 
eeneral terms, the object being to give the reader some indication 
whether the species to which he refers the plant is likely to have been 
found growing in the places indicated. Directions to precise localities 
occupy too much space for any but very local Floras or Botanists’ 
Guide-Books. Exceptions are of course made for plants only known 
in a single locality. In all these indications Britain is meant to include 
Ireland. The Channel Island plants are only mentioned when they are 
not also found on the main British Isles. 
These stations are followed, in the same paragraph, by the period of 
flowering, printed in italics. The season is generally given rather than 
the month, as the flowering of plants always varies with the season. 
A spring flower which may appear in the beginning of March in a 
favoured situation on the south coast of England may not open till 
May in the Highlands of Scotland. These periods of flowering, de- 
rived from personal observation or from the best sources I had to hand, 
must, however, be taken with considerable allowance, for they are liable 
to much variation, according to local or temporary influences; and at 
