SPECIFIC DISTINCTIONS. 



times the chief distinction, as in Scilla, where the species are 

 scarce to be distinguished, but by the bulbs being tunicate,.,. so- 

 lid,, ,.or squamose ;...and in Orchis, where the species are known 

 by the roots being fibrose,... round,... ox lesticulate ; but as access 

 cannot always be conveniently had to this part of the plant, it is 

 better to fix, the specific distinction on some other circumstance, 

 if the case will admit of it. 



The Trunk often furnishes a sure mark of distinction. Thus 

 in Hypericum*,. ..CoNVALLARiAf,... and HedysarumJ, there are 

 many species distinguishable by the angles of the stem j... and in 

 Lupinus, the species are not easy to be known, except by the 

 same part being simple or compound. In Eriocaulon, the most 

 remarkable difference is in the Culmus, wh\ch is quinquangular, 

 .,.hexangulai\... decangular, &c. In Pyrola, some species are di- 

 stinguished by a triquetrous scapus. In Citrus, the aurantium is 

 distinguished from its congeners by its petioles, which are wing- 

 ed, or increased by a membrane on each side;... and in Com- 

 phrena, there is a species § distinguished by its peduncles, which 

 are diphyllous, being furnished with two opposite folioles that 

 are placed under the head of the flowers. 



The Leaves exhibit most natural and also most elegant spe- 

 cific differences. These have been so amply treated of already, 

 that it would be only repetition to particularise or exemplify the 

 numerous cases that occur of such distinctions. 



Fulcra are generally a good mark of distinction, and must be 

 carefully attended to by the botanist, for the determination of 

 the species ; as we shall show by many examples, where the 

 diiference consists principally in those parts of the plant. Thus, 



greater and less sorts with a root not hollow, appear by the whole habit of the plant* 

 to be varieties only, as will be observed in the next Chapter. Author. 



* Hypericum Hirsutum f Lin. Spec. Plant. 736.) caule tereti — Hypericum 

 Perforatum (Lin. Spec. Plant. 785.) caule ancipiti — Hypericum Quadrangulum 

 (Lin. Spec. Plant. 785.) caule quadrangulo. Editor. 



•f- Con vall aria Polygonatum (Lin. Spec. Plant. 015.) caule ancipiti — Con- 

 vallaria Multiflora (Lin. Spec. Plant. 315.) caule tereti. Editor. 



% HedysarumTriouetrum (Lin. Spec. Plant. 746.) caule triquetro. 'Editos. 



§ Gomp!hrena Globosa (Lin. Spec. Plant. 224.) Author. 



