( ^33 ) 
Vegetables. The form of leaves is firft to be 
confidered, by which muft be underftood their 
external ftru&ure. Refpecling their form, they 
are divided into fimple and compound leaves. 
Simple leaves are thofe which have only a 
fmgle leaf on a petiole, or foot-ftalk. Thefe 
fimple leaves may differ in refpeft tp many 
circumftances, but they are ftill fimple, \i 
the divifions, however deep, do not reach to 
the mid-rib. There are fixty-two ways in 
which a fimple leaf may be diversified, all of 
which muft be ftudied with the plates, and 
the terms of explanation annexed to them. 
The genius of Linneus is more confpicuous 
in this part of his fubjecl: than even in any 
other. He has formed a language, which, in 
the rnqft concife expreffive manner poffible^ 
depiclures fuch a variety of forms of leaves, 
fruits, flowers, ftems, and feeds, as no other 
was ever before made to defcribe. The in- 
troduction of thefe excellent terms to englifh 
botanifts we owe to the Lichfield tranflators 
of Linneus's works. To the Syftem of Ve- 
getables are prefixed a preface and advertife- 
ment, which fhould be read by all young 
botanifts. Attention and habit will render 
the amazing variety of form in the fimple 
leaves 
