P R E F A C E; 
the ftalks^ their flowers monopetalous^ cut into five 
fegments^ and fucc£eded by four naked feeds^ are like- 
wife ranged together ^ and conftitute another called 
Alperifoliate. In like manner the reft are diftinguijhed ; 
fo that in all they make up twenty-two claffes in this 
Synopfis ; and the particular properties^ or charac- 
ters^ whereby they are fever ally known ^ being prefix'd^ 
a learner^ by moderate application^ may^ in a fhort 
time^ become acquainted with thofe claffes^ and be 
able to retain them in his memory^ fo as to recollect 
them upon occafion. Bejides the notes or properties 
which afcertain each particular clafs^ there are others 
to be found in every plants which denominate the fub- 
altern genera, or kinds. For example., Angelica and 
Cowparfnip are both of the Umbelliferous tribe., each 
having a pentapetalous flower., fucc ceded by two na- 
ked feeds *5 but then there is a remarkable dijference 
between the two plants., for the leaves of the former 
are winged., and the leaves of the latter are jagged or 
finuated ; which properties diftinguijh thefe two kinds. 
Accordingly all the dijferent genera, or kinds., are digeft- 
ed under their feveralclafles^ and properly char abler fed ; 
and., after the fame manner., under every genus, all the 
different iptcits are difpofed, with fhort defcriptions to 
diftinguifh them from each other. So that when any un- 
known plant occurs., it may eaf.ly be known % for., by exa- 
mining its appearance and properties., it will readily be 
referred to its diftinbl clafs \ from whence., by obferving 
its more particular marks and charabiers., it may be traced 
to its fubaltern genus and fpecies •, where it has., firft 
the name given it in Mr Ray’j Synopfis, afterwards 
thofe by Cafpar Bauhine, Gerard, and Farkinfon ; and 
that thefe authors may be readily confulted for further 
information., the pages of each are inferted. And it 
muft be obferved, that in this diftribution of the plajitSy 
the third edition of Mr Ray’j Synopfis is followed., 
excepting a few fuch tranfpofitions as the proper' ties., 
upon ' examination y plainly direbfed , the moft material 
