BOTANICAE CHART; 
OR, - ^ 
CONCISE INTRODUCTION TO THE LINNJEAN SYSTEM OF BOTANY. 
By JAMES RATTRAY, Surgeon, and Lecturer on Botany, Glasgow. 
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Botany is that science which teaches us to distinguish one Plant from another; and consists in associating together, into classes, or groups, such Plants 
as possess certain permanent chai’acters in common, and in separating and distinguishing those that are dissimilar in character and appearance, by fixed rules 
correctly drawn from Nature; thereby enabling us to discover the properties and uses of the paultifarious and variously organized bodies m the Vegetable 
Kingdom, The purpose of this Tabular Scheme, besides giving the Nomenclature of Botany, is to guide the Student, in the clearest and concisest mauner, 
to an intimate acquaintance with the Anatomy of a Plant, the functions of- its particular parts, and the elucidation of the most accurate and elegant mode 
of arrangement ever offered to the world the genius of man; which system, or mode of ari’angement, is founded upon characters drawn from the figure, 
situation, nimiber, proportion, and connection of the various parts of a Plant. ^ . i v 
When a Plant is taken up for examination, it is an object to obtain several flowers—some of them fully expanded, some just opening, others whose ; 
Seed-vessels may be nearly ripe, and, if possible, one entire specimen of the Plant. Determine first whether the flower is male, female, or hermaphrodite; 
then, from the number, insertion, proportionate lengths, and connection of the Stamens, the Class to which the PJant belongs (by looking at the characters of 
the Classes in the Key annexed) will be easily found out; and, by counting the number of the Pistils, observing ^{hether the Seeds are naked or covered, and 
noticing the shape of the Seed-vessel, &c. the Order will be really ascertained. -By turning up in Dr. Smith’s “ Florae Britannicae,” the Class and Order, the 
Genera will be found arranged and grouped together into several sections, by certain very obvious marks of distinction. The specific characters follow, arranged 
in a similar manner. These divisions and subdivisions, by lessening the labour, greatly facilitate the study of Botany, and will soon enable the student to 
" Find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.” 
Plants, in general^ are composed of Root, 
ROOTS. 
The Radix or Root consists of two parts—thfe Caudex or Stock, and the Radicula or 
Small Fibres : it is commonly fixed in the earthj ''and imbibes the principaT*hbYirlshtfient 
of the plant from the soil. The Roots of some Plants exhale or give out certain excre- 
mentitious matter, which impregnates the surrouiding soil, and has led some Physiologists 
to suppose that the Roots of all Plants possess similar functions. 
The small Fibres, or true roots, consist nearly,‘of cellular substance; and are seemingly 
a continuation of the vessels which convey the nourishment of the Plant into the system 
of circulation. The solid portion of the Root fe similar in composition and structure to 
the Stem: and although the chemical changes •^hich the imbibed juices undergo in the 
Root may not be fully understood, yet the wonderful changes which these juices experience 
in passing through the vascular system of the Plant are evident, and point out the im¬ 
portance of the Root in the economy of the vegetable. 
The various kinds of Iloots are, the 
Articulafiis, when the root is jointed, as in Wo(^Sorrel. 
buds under ground. They may be’scalycoated, net-like, solid, lateral, double, 
compound, as in LUium, Aliumy &c. 
DentatuSy when fleshy branched roots have toothrlike processes. Coral-rooted Ophrys, 
^ihrosViSi when the root consists of a number of small fibres. Poa. 
Fusiformisy when spindle-shaped, tapering gradually like the Carrot, 
Granulatus, forming small round bodies, as in Saxifraga granulata, 
Horizontalisy when lying horizontally on the ground, as in Folypodium, 
Napiformis, when the knobs are round like the Common Turnip, 
PalmatuSy hand-shaped, divided into three or more longish knobs. Orchis latifolia, 
Prcemorsusy when the Caudex appears as if bitten"* off, as in DeviVs Bite, 
Ramosusy when divided into many branches, as in most trees, &c. 
RepenSy creeping under the surface of the earth, and at intervals pushing up stems. 
Squamosusy when the Caudex is covered with scales. White Lily, 
TeaticulaiuSy when two egg-shaped knobs grow together. Orchis Moria. 
Tuberosusj when fleshy knobs adhere to the Caudex or to the fibres. Dropwori. 
INFLORESCENCE. ^ 
Inflorescentia or Inflorescence. —The particular mode of the arrangement of the 
Flowers affords one of the most permanent and certain characters of distinction among 
Plants, as the mode of Inflorescence seldom or never varies in any one species; although 
the number of the Flowers, in any of the following modes, would be a very uncertain 
character to found specific distinction upon. 
Under this term are comprehended the various modes of arrangement which Flowers 
assume, such as the 
Amentumy when the flowers are thickly set upon a slender foot-stalk, with intervening 
scales, as in Hazely Birchy Oahy &c. 
Capitulumy when a number of flowers stand thick on one stalk, either of a spherical or 
roundish form, like a head. 
Corymhus, when the foot-stalks of a Racemus are lengthened out to a flat surface. Iberis, 
^ymay a number of branched foot-stalks rising from a common point, as in Elder, &c. 
iTasiculus, an irregular cluster or bundle* as in Sweet-William, 
wt 
**r'‘*‘““‘^ristle-like, with or without a sheath. 
BichotomuSy the branehds dividing regularly and repeatedly into pairs. Missletoe, 
Fastigiatusy the branches at the bottom rising to an equal height with those at the top of 
the stem. ’ 
Fron^ when the stem, leaf, and fructification are united. Ferns, 
P^uncuhiSy the flower-stalk, supporting only flowers. 
Petiomsy the leaf-stalk, bearing only leaves. 
Sca^i^ a stem elevating the flowers only, as in the Lily of the Valley, &c. 
SJe^o^the stem which beai's only the fructification of mosses. 
iS^es^^the stems of ferns, njushrooms, palms, and the pappus of some seeds. 
Surcuiusy the stem which bears the leaves of the mosses. 
Tnihcusy "the main stem or trunk of trees and shrubs. 
"When Plants want the Stem altogether, they are termed Flantce Acaule, 
many 
Racemus, when every flower has a short foot-stalk, as in the Currant, &c. 
Spadix, when all the flower-stalks are contained in a vagina —peculiar to Palms, and some 
few other plants. 
Spicxda, when a number of flowers have only one Calyx —peculiar to Grasses, 
)ica, a spike, a number of flowers without foot-stalks sitting on the stem. Wheat, 
'hyrsus, when a panicle is condensed into an ovate form, as in Privet, 
Xlmhella, a number of flower-stalks, of one length, issuing from a common centre, like 
the radii of a circle, as in Hemloch, Scc- 
Verticillus or Whirl, when flowers encircle the stem in rings. Mentha. 
Peculiar trf Mosses. 
Flos Capituliformisy formed like a little head or sphere. 
Flos Bisciformis, the flower formed like a star, as in Polytrichium. 
Flos Gemmiformisy when the figure of the flower is like a swollen bud. 
FULCRA. 
The Fulcra or Props serve for defending, clothing, and keeping weak Plants erect, &c. 
Under this head we understand the other parts of the Plant, exclusive of the Root, Stem, 
Leaves, and Flowers, such as the 
Stem, Inflorescence, Fulcra, Flowers, and Fruit. A short description of the different Parts^ with the Varieties met with among Vegetables^ follows : 
STEMS. 
The Stem is the principal trunk or body which supports the branches, leaves, &c. of a 
vegetable; and may be either simple or branched. The Branches maybe placed opposite 
or alternate, scattered or close, compact or spreading, diverging or divaricated, reflected, 
deflected, or retroflected. Stems may be bent or procumbent, straight or twining, creep¬ 
ing or climbing; they may be naked or covered with leaves, scaly or covered with bulbs, 
&c. In figure, they may be round or angular, compressed or half-round, woody, herba¬ 
ceous, fleshy, or firm, smooth or rough. The Trunks of Trees and Shrubs are composed 
of a Medulla or Pith, the Lignum or solid wood, and the Alburnum, the soft new layers 
of wood: covered ^ith three different coats of bark,— viz, the Liber, the Cortex, and 
Epidermis. 
Botanists have enumerated the following kinds of Stems: the 
•lis, peculiar to herbaceous plants, the principal stem elevating the leaves, flowers, &c. 
^ifertus, branches thic^ set or crowded without order. 
Coractatus, rising at acute angles from the stem, , and sweeping nearly close np by it. ^Panicula, when a number of flowers are standing on long foot-stalks, unequally divided, 
Culmusy the proper stem:of grasses, it* may be simple or branched, knotted or knotless, ^ Grasses. 
Aculeus, a prickle, formed from the bark, as in the Rose, Briar, &c. 
^^uia, a hollow bladder, found at the roots of some water plants. Utricularice, 
Annulus, a thin membrane, like a ring,;surrounding the stalk of the fungi. 
Arista, the awn or pointed beard o^ some of the Grasses. 
Ascidium, a cylindrical hollow leaf, containing water, sometimes completely covered, open¬ 
ing occasionally. Mepanihes, 
Bractea, floral leaves, situated among the ^owers, generally differing in shape and colour 
■ from the leaves of the plant. Qrchis. 
Chirrusy a tender, twisted, thread-likej body, which serves weak plants to clasp other 
bodies for support. Vine. \ 
Gemma, the bud whicb contains the ea^jryo of the loaves and flowers. 
-©RiTzWa, a round body which either secretes or transpires fluids. 
Gongylus, round hard body in the fuci,wluch, on the death of the old plant, becomes a new one. 
Indusium is a thin membrane which covers the flowers or seeds of ferns. 
Ligula, a small transparent strap, situated on the margin of the vagina, and at the base 
of the leaf. Poa. 
Ochrca, a leaf-like body, surrounding the flower-stalks of some grasses. 
Pileus is the cap or top of a mushroom, supported by the stalk. 
Pilus, a slender fine body, like a hair, covering some plants. 
Propago is the bud of mosses, which Linnaeus considers as the seed. 
Ramentum, small bristle-shaped, brown-coloured, thin leafets, without order on the stem, 
as in Fir, &c. 
Spina, a thorn, formed from the woody part of the plant. Cochspur Thorn. 
'Silpidae, small leaves or scales situated at the base of some of the foot-stalks of leaves. 
" '" 'VicicB, Lathyrus, 
Vagina, the prolongation of a leaf which rolls itself round the stem. Bistort, 
LEAVES. 
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The Leaves are organs in a Vegetable, possessing functions nearly analogous to those of 
the lungs of Animals, affording an extended surface for the absorption and transpiration 
of air and moisture ; and they likewise give shadie to the Vegetable. 
The Leaves are a continuation and expansion of the same vessels and matter which 
compose the Root, Stem, Branches, and Foot-Stalks; and, in many plants, show their 
wonderful susceptibility of certain stimuli, exhibiting the most striking phenomena in 
changing their direcfion^ by the contraction or elongation of therf fibres. They may be 
simple or compound; and are distinguished and denominated from their connection, situa¬ 
tion, figure, substance, position, direction, or attachment. On examining a simple leaf, 
its base and apex, its circumference and margin, its upper and under surfaces, its substance 
and situation, must be considered; and are termed, 
Acerosum, needle-shaped, a rigid linear leaf like the Pinus, 
Acuminatum, when the point is lengthened out. 
Acutum, acute, when tapering gradually to a point. 
Auriculatuni, ear-shaped, nearly hastate, but the lobes rounded and smaller. 
Angulare, of various angles. 
Avenium, having no veins. 
Axillare, when standing at the origin of the branch. 
Anceps, when a compressed leaf is sharp on both edges. 
Acinaciforme, shaped like a scyraitar, a thick leaf with one side sharp and the other broad. 
AUerna, when placed alternate. 
Amplexicaule, when the lobes of a sessile leaf embrace the stem. 
Adpressum, when the upper surface is pressed upwards to the stem. 
Adversum, when the margin is turned towards the, stem. 
Bulatum, when the parts raised between the veins 'arc like blisters. 
Cordatum, heart-shaped. Lamium album. 
Cuneiforme, when blunt-pointed, it tapers to the blise like a wedge. 
Cuspidatum, when the acuminate leaf ends in a bristle. 
Capillare, when scarcely any breadth, like a hair. 
Cartilaginum, when the margin is harder than the disk of the leaf, 
Crenntum, notched, with small teeth, whose points stand at right angles with the mid rib. 
Ciliatum, fringed with long hairs, distant from each other, 
Concavum, hollow in .the middle of the leaf. 
Canaliculatum, when the mid rib is furrowed or channeled. 
Crispum, when fuller on the margin than the middle, the former curled. 
Carinatum, when the mid rib is formed like the keel of a ship. 
Cucvdlatum, when, rolled up like a hollow cone, or like a sugar paper. 
Caulinum, when attached to the principal stem. 
Carnosum, fleshy, when there is a pulpy soft substance, as in Houseleeh, 
Compressum, compressed, when a thick leaf is flattened on both sides. 
Conferta, when so crowded that the stem cannot be seen. 
Connatum, when opposite sessile leaves are closely united at their base into one substance# 
Becurrens, when the substance of the leaf runs down the stem, 
Boedaleum, when the apex has a large circuit, but is cut off and ragged. 
Bentatum, when small distinct separate teeth are placed on the margin. 
Bepressum, when the upper and under surfaces of a fleshy leaf are pressed together. 
Bolahiforme, when a fleshy leaf is compressed and shaped like an axe, 
Beltoides, when short and bounded by three broad surfaces, like the letter delta. 
Bisticha, when the leaves stand in two rows, as in Yew and Pitch Fir, 
Becussata, when set in four rows, forming a St. Andrew’s cross. 
Bependens, when the base turns to the zenith and the apex to the earth. 
Bemersum, when the leaves are found below water. 
Emarginatum, w'hen blunt-pointed and notched deeply, a portion taken out. 
Enervium, when no nerves rise from the base, nerveless. 
Endforme, sword-shaped, like the Iris. 
Erectum, when the leaf’forms a very acute angle upwards with the stem, 
Erosum, gnawed, unequally sinuated, as if bitten at the edges. 
Fasicvlata, when the leaves stand in tufts, as in Larch, &c. 
Fissum, cleft, when merely cut into the leaf. 
Flabelliforme, when shaped like a fan. 
Florale, when standing close by the flower. 
Gihbosum, w'hen both surfaces are convex, or seem swelled out. 
Horizontale, when the i^per surface of the leaf makes a right angle with the stem. 
overlaps another, like tiles on a house, 
one lobe is larger than the other, 
t the point towards the stem, 
fface is hollow between the veins, pitted, 
ere are several irregular clefts in an oblong leaf, 
Lanceolotum, shaped liffi*a spear, gradually narrowing to the point. 
Lineatum, streaked witfeepressed but not always parallel lines. 
Lineare, of equal breadwfrom the base to the apex, margins nearly straight. 
Linguiforme, when a ccftpressed leaf is somewhat tongue-shaped. 
Lobatum, deeply dividemuto lobes. 
Lunalum, moon-sbapedMke the moon in her third quarter. 
Lyrafum, lyre-shaped, v®*en the extreme segment of any of the two former is large and round 
Imhricatum, when one 
IncequaJe, unequal, wh 
Incurjvum, when bent i 
Lacunosum, when the 
Laciniatum, torn, whe 
Membranaceum, like a membrane, when without any pulpy substance, 
Mucronatum, when a blunt-ended leaf ends in a bristle. 
Natans, when the leaf swims, as in Water Lily. 
Nervosum, when the vessels run in parallel lines from base to apes. • 
Obliquum, when in a direction between horizontal and perpendiculai*. 
Obtusum, when the end of the leaf is blunt. '; 
Opposita folia, when the leaves are set opposite. 
Orbiculatum, when the circumference is in all points at equal distances from the centre. 
Ovatum, egg-shaped, nearly oval, but the diameter greater at the base than at the apex. 
Paleaceum, when the foot-stalk is attached to the margin. ; 
Palmatum, when more than half-way divided into five or six finger-like lobes. 
Panduriforme, fiddle-shaped, having a deep curve or bay on both sides of an oblong leaf. 
Parabolicum, a quadrangular figure, with two obtuse and two acute angles. 
Petiolatum when a leaf has a foot-stalk. 
Peltatum, when the foot-stalk is inserted into the disk of the leaf. 
Pinnatifidum, when the incisures or bays go almost down to the mid rib. 
Planum, when the upper surface forms an even plane. 
Plicatum, when the leaf is laid in regular folds. 
Premorsum, when the point seems as if bitten off. 
Punctatum, dotted, having dots or points instead of veins or ribs, 
Radigale, when they spring from the root, as in Viola odorata. 
Radicans, when the leaf strikes roots. ■ 
Ramosum, when rising from the branches. 
Reclinatum, when standing with its point towards the earth. 
Remota, when separate from one another by considerable interstices. 
Reniforme, kidney-shaped. Ground ivy, \ 
Reticulatum, when the veins are like net-work. - Jr 
Repandum, serpentine, small sinuses without angles on the marg^ 
Retusum, slightly and bluntly notched at the end. 
Revolutum, when rolled backwards with its point to the stem. 
Rugosum, wrinkled, when the surface is raised between the vein? 
Runcinatum, when the incisures of a. pinnatifidlcdii are pointed a|ld bent downwards. 
Sagitatum, arrow-shaped, the lobes pointed and bent outward likrfbarbs. 
Seminale, when they grow out of the seed lobes when gerrainatinm'' 
Serratum, when the point of the teeth are turned to the apex likeo saw. 
Sessile, when fixed to the stem, and there is no foot-stalk. 
Sinuatum, sinuated, when shallow bays are cut out of the margi: 
Spinosum, when set with spines as in the Thistle, 
Sparsa, when they stand thick on the stem, scattered without order. 
Squarroso Laciniatum, when the incisures run in every direction, as in the Thistle, 
Stellata sive Verticillgta, when several are set star-like round the stem. 
Subulatum, awl-shaped, a linear leaf sharply pointed. 
Teres, round, when formed like a cylinder. 
Terna, when three leaves stand round the stem, 
Tetragonum, when a long leaf is hounded by four narrow surfaces. 
Tiiqueirum, three-sided, when hounded by three narrow long sides. 
Truncaium, when the point of a leaf is cut off or ends in a straight line. 
Tubulosum, when hollow within, as in the leaves of the Onion, 
XJndidatum, waved, when the margin is bent upwards and downwards, 
XJncinatum, when a leaf has a hook-shaped appearance. 
Venosum, when the fibres are branched from the mid rib, 
Verucosum, warty, having little lumps or warts on the surface. 
Verticale, perpendicular, forming a right angle with the horizon. 
When there are several leaves on one foot-stalk, they are termed Compound Leaves.— 
Under the following kinds will be found most of the varieties which compound leaves 
assume, with regard to arrangement. 
Bigeminatum, when a divided leaf-stalk bears two leaves at each point. 
Binatum, when the leaves stand in pairs. 
Bipinnatum, double pinnated. 
Biternatum, when a foot-stalk separates into three, bearing three leaves on each point. 
Conjugato pinnatum, when a foot-stalk divides, and each pair makes a pinnated leaf, 
Becompositum, when the primary leaf-stalk divides, each division forming a compound leaf. 
Bigitatum, when the base of several leaves rest on one kindred foot-stalk. 
Bigitato pinnatum, when four or five simply pinnated leaves are fixed to one stalk. 
Patens, when expanding in a direction nearly horizontal, 
Pedatum, when there is some resemblance to the foot of a bird, as in Black Sellebore, 
Pinnatum, winged, when a series- of leafets, on the same plane, are fixed to one foot-stalk. 
Ouinatum, when five leaves are fixed to one foot-stalk. 
Supra Becompositum, when more than doubly compound. 
Ternatum, when three leaves are supported on one foot-stalk, 
Trigeminatum, when the former has two leaves at the division of the principal stalk, 
Tripiiinatum, when several doubly pinnated leaves are fixed to one common foot-stalk, 
Triternatum, when a foot-stalk is divided into three, at each point again divided into 
three, these nine points bearing, each three leaves. 
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