CLASS I. 
INDIVIDUAL ABSOLUTE TERMS. 
475 
13. f A millimetre ^ French line. 
14. f A centimetre =4 French lines and-^%‘^^2_. 
15. f A decimetre=3 French inches, eight lines, 
16. f A metre=3feet, 11 lines, French; or, 39*371 inches 
English. 
Obs. The last four terms are French measures, which are 
rarely used, and for which no equivalent Latin terms are 
employed. 
6. Of Duration. 
The terms in ordinary use to express the absolute period 
of duration of a plant are sufficiently precise for common 
purposes, but are too inaccurate to be longer admitted within 
the pale of science. I have, therefore, adopted the phrase- 
ology of De Candolle, as far as relates to words expressive 
of the actual term of vegetable existence. 
1. Monocarpotcs ; bearing fruit but once, and dying after 
fructification ; as Wheat. Some live but one year, and are 
called annuals : the term of the existence of others is pro- 
longed to two years ; these are biennials : others live for many 
years before they flower, but die immediately afterwards ; 
as the Agave americana. The latter have no English name. 
Annuals are indicated by the signs O or (T) ; biennials by ^ 
or ; and the others by 
2. Polycarpous (better sycJmocarpous) ; having the power of 
bearing fruit many times without perishing. Of this there 
are two forms : — 
A. Caulocarpous, or those whose stem endures many years, 
constantly bearing flowers and fruits ; as trees and shrubs. 
The sign of these is . 
B. Rhizocarpous, or those whose root endures many years, 
but whose stems perish annually ; as herbaceous plants. 
The sign of these is 11 . 
3. Hysteranfhous ; when leaves appear after flowers; as the 
Almond, Tussilago fragrans, &c. 
4. f Synantlious ; when flowers and leaves appear at the same 
time. 
5. f Proteranthoiis ; when the leaves appear before the flowers. 
6. Double-hearing (biferus) ; when any thing is produced twice 
in one season. 
7. Often-bearing multiferus^\ when any thing is produced 
several times in one season. 
