90 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



the lowest degree of plant development, passing upwards 

 to the highest, considered to be represented by the 

 Kanunciilus, Poppy, and Magnolia families. Others com- 

 mence with the latter, and pass downwards to the lowest. 



In the following arrangement, I have adopted Dr. 

 Lindley's view of classification, as given in his Vege- 

 table Kingdom ;" but in consequence of the great im- 

 portance attached by him to the position and character 

 of the ovules, embryo, and the presence or absence of 

 albumen in the seed in determining affinities, families 

 related in every respect, but differing in the nature of 

 the ovule, etc., are placed far apart. Admitting these 

 characters to be of great importance scientifically, as 

 they are not evident to common observation, I have 

 deviated fi-om his sequence of arrangement by bring- 

 ing into proximity families placed by him in diffe- 

 rent alliances ; thus in many cases arranging them in 

 accordance with the position they hold in the systems of 

 Jussieu and De Candolle. 



I have now given a general view of the organisms and 

 functions of plants, which I trust will be sufficient to 

 enable the amateur student to acquire a knowledge of 

 the principles of Botany. It is, however, necessary to 

 explain that the subject separates iuto two branches, 

 which to a certain extent may be independently studied. 

 The first is called Phytology,"^ and embraces the organs 

 of growth and reproduction, which with classification 

 constitute descriptive and systematic botany — that is, 

 naming, classifying, and technically describing plants. 



The second consists in the microscopical examination 

 of the structure of plants, which is termed physical bo- 



* From the Greek wovd ^^huton (phyton), a plant. 



