CHAP. II. 
OF DESCRIPTIONS. 
515 
their just order, beginning with the root, and ending with the 
fruit. The following is the form in which a perfect descrip- 
tion would be prepared : it shows the order in which the dif- 
ferent parts are spoken of, and the points of structure to 
which it is desirable to advert. The student will do well to 
consult it carefully : he should take common plants, the de- 
scriptions of which he can find in books, and, for the sake of 
exercise, describe them himself according to this form ; com- 
paring them afterwards with the printed descriptions of 
botanists. A number of the points which I think it necessary 
to describe are usually overlooked by others, as unimportant, 
or as too difficult to ascertain : these I have marked with 
an asterisk ; so that those points which are commonly ad- 
verted to may be distinguished from those that are usually 
omitted : — 
Root. Its figure, quality, substance, duration, and * ana- 
tomical internal analysis. 
Stem. Its figure, direction, duration, articulation, ramifi- 
cation, size, surface, and * internal analysis. 
Leaves. Their * vernation, * internal structure, figure, 
articulation, insertion, margin, surface, venation, direction, 
colour, texture, and size. 
Petiole. Its form, surface, and the proportion it bears to 
the leaf. 
Stipulce. Their position, texture, surface, insertion, dura- 
tion, figure, and proportion to the petiole. 
Inflorescence. Its nature, order of developement, ramifica- 
tion, position, and proportion to the leaves. 
Bractece. Their numbers, figure, station, proportion to the 
adjacent parts, surface, texture, * venation. 
Flowers. Their order and time of expansion. 
Calyx. Its structure, figure, station with respect to the 
ovary and the axis of inflorescence, surface, aestivation, odour, 
size, proportion to the corolla, colour, and venation. 
Corolla. Its structure, figure, station with respect to the 
ovary and axis of inflorescence and adjacent parts, surface, 
aestivation, size, colour, proportion to the calyx and stamens, 
and venation. 
Stamens. Their number, direction, aestivation, station with 
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