xri 
INTRODUCTION. 
tious Triticum, Zea, Oryza, Solanum tuber ofum, 
Mufa, Convolvulus Batata, Rapa, Orchis, Vitis 
vinifera, Pyrus, Olea ; for clothing with Linum 
Cannabis, GofTypium, Morus ; for medicinal vir- 
tues with Hylfopus, Thymus, Anthemis nobilis 5 
Papaver fomniferum, Quinquina, Rheum rhabarba- 
rum, Pifum, &c. Though none of thefe mod vife- 
ful tribes are confpicuous for ftatelinefs, figure, or 
fpiendour, yet their valuable qualities and virtues 
excite love, gratitude, and adoration to the great 
Creator, who was pleafed to endow them with fuch 
eminent qualities, and reveal them to us for our fuf- 
tenance, amufement, and delight. 
But there remain of the vegetable world feveral 
tribes that are didinguifhed by very remarkable pro- 
perties, which excite our admiration, fome for the 
elegance, Angularity, and fpiendour of their veft- 
ment, as the Tulipa, Fritillaria, Colchicum, Pri- 
mula, Lilium fuperbum, Kalmia, &c. : others ailo« 
nifh us by their figure and difpofal of their vefture, 
as if defigned only to embellim and pleafe the ob« 
ferver, as the Nepenthes diflillatoria, Ophrys infec- 
toria, Cypripedium calceolus, Hydrangia quercifo- 
3ia, Bartramia bracleata, Viburnum Canadenfe, 
Bartfia, he. 
Obferve thefe green meadows how they are deco- 
rated ; they feem enamelled with the beds of flowers. 
The biufning Chironia and Rhexia, the fpiral 
Ophrys with immaculate white flowers, the Limo- 
dorum, Arethufa pulcherrima, Sarracenia purpurea 5 
Sarracenia galeata, Sarracenia lacunofa, Sarracenia 
flava. Shall we analyze thefe beautiful plants, fmce 
they feem cheerfully to invite us ? Plow greatly the 
flowers of the yellow Sarracenia reprefent a filken 
canopy ? the yellow pendant petals are the curtains, . 
and the hollow leaves are not unlike the cornucopia 
or Amahhea's horn ; what a quantity of water a 
leaf is capable of containing, about a pint ! tafte of 
