12 
INTRODUCTION. 
Tented it in the firft eight Figures, PI. i. in two very different Plants, 
the Scabious and the Teaf- 11 . In the one of thefe, the Scabious, Fig. 
i, 2, 3, 4. the compofition is very evident, and the parts all large 
and proportioned in the ufual way; the Receptacle riling but a little, 
and the Teparate Cups of the Flower being very obvious : in the other, 
the Teafell, Fig. 5, 6, 7, 8. the Receptacle fwells to fo immoderate 
a length, and the Chaffs which are placed between the Flowers, con- 
fufe the view To much, that the eye of a ftudent might be at firff fight 
perplexed. However, when the regular forn) of the Scabious head is 
firff; known, the length of the Receptacle in the other will be con- 
fidered only as a difference of degree, not of kind ; and the Chaffs be- 
tween the Flowers in thefe heads, being of no importance to the 
Cliffic Charadter, will give no confufion. The cautious eye being 
thus informed in one inffance, the mod diffimilar in afpedt of all that 
can occur, will find no difficulty in any other. Let it only be remem- 
beiedon this and all other occafions, that the greater alliances of Plants, 
as Clafies, take in only their greateft Charadters, not all of them : the 
reft remain for a variety of fubordinate diftindtions of Order, Genus, 
and Species. Thus the Chaffs of the Receptacle here negledted in the 
Gallic Charadler, are fo obvious as to make part of a very diftindl 
Generic mark ; and fo it will be found of all the others. If we re- 
ceived all into the Charadter of Clafies, thefe would Ihrink from their 
ufe and nature, and we Ihould have only Genera. 
This premifed, that the whole fcheme of diftribution may be familiar, 
let us' lead the ftudent by the hand, from a view of the exterior form, 
to the compofition and conftrudtion of the Aggregate Head thus in- 
ftanced, at PI. 1 . Fig. 1. he fees the Scabious Head entire, as it fiiews 
itfelf upon the Plant while growing, he perceives this is a Clufter of 
Flowers a , furrounded by a Common Cup b , and thus conceives diftindtly 
enough the general idea. 
Let him blow thefe afunder with his breath, or part them with 
his finger, and he immediately fees, as at Fig. 2. that every one of 
thefe lefler Flowers is perfedt in itfelf j he perceives that each has its 
own Cup, Fig. 2. a. that the Body of it, 2. b. no where joins, or is 
connedted with any other, and that the union of fuch a number of 
them 
