PREFACE . 
vii 
connection between morphology and other branches of 
botany, and because I have wished to place before the 
student some of the general ideas underlying modern re- 
search, with a view to suggesting directions in which further 
research is desirable and likely to be profitable. 
“ The second portion of this work is of course chiefly a 
compilation ; a few original observations are inserted, but 
none of any importance. I desire in the first place to 
express my warmest thanks to Professor A. Engler, for his 
kind permission to use the materials contained in Die natiir- 
lichen Pflcinzenfamilien , a permission of which I have very 
largely availed myself, the descriptions of many of the 
families being almost entirely based upon that work. I am 
also indebted to him and to Herr Engelmann for the use 
of the late Professor Eichler’s figures. Many other books, 
and hundreds of original papers have also been used in 
preparing Part II; the chief of these are mentioned on 
a later page.” 
The first edition was in two volumes. This was, I now 
think, a mistake, for Part I is indispensable for purposes of 
cross-reference from Part II by all but specialists. In this 
edition the whole is combined into one volume, while Part I 
is shortened as much as possible by the omission of contro- 
versial matter, and by the use of smaller type for paragraphs 
of descriptive terms and other articles not intended for 
consecutive reading. 
The former edition has been favourably received among 
travellers, residents in outlying districts, schoolmasters, and 
the considerable class of people who have an indirect in- 
terest in botany and need some work of general reference 
in that subject. Bearing in mind their requirements, and 
those of botanical students, I have improved the present 
