ADVERTISEMENT.
T h e plan to be pursued in the following sheets, is, to commence
the history of each figure by the botanical name of the plant. In the second
line the English or vulgar name is given. In the third, the place
of the plant in the class and order of the system of Linnseus, and in the
natural family of Jussieu. The generic character next follows; and,
when not particularly quoted from other works, it is taken from the
Genera Plantarum of Linnseus. The specific character, when, in the
opinion of the author an unexceptionable one is to be found in any
of the modern botanical works, is quoted from them ; but most frequently
given by himself and marked with the initial B. The
synonymy succeeds—and under this head, in reference to the figure,
much useful information is added. The text commences with the
technical descriptive account of the plant, to which the habitat,
soil, and time of flowering are superadded. In the general history
which follows, the origin of the generic name is given, when known,
as well as the derivations of the common or vulgar names; and
finally, in all instances in which thé economical uses of plants are
interesting, they will be noticed, and such particularized as medicinal
as are possessed of sanative properties.
In the description of the colours of the flowers, leaves, fruit, ^c.
the author has assumed the new and precise nomenclature of Werner,
as exemplified in Mr. Symes’s edition. No further importance
is intended to be conveyed by this precision in designating the various
tints of nature, than that which truth and perspicuity must always
afford. To this it may be, remarked, that few botanists describe
colours accurately, owing to the general confusion and erroneous
ideas which prevail in the minds of most persons, relative to the
names of different tints. Few are particularly attentive in scrutinizing
the various shades of the standard or characteristic colours; and
fewer still take the pains of studying the inclination of one shade towards
its kindred tint, or the falling of the remote tints of the standard
colour into its neighbouring hues. Hence, in minute descriptive botany,
perpetual confusion occurs between blues and purples, of different
intensity, yellow and orange, reds and red purples, browns
and greys, and greys and black. Some idea may be formed of the
difficulty on this subject by knowing, that Werner and Symes’s enumeration
of the most common colours or tints that appear in nature,
amount to one hundred and eight.
With a view to illustrate as far as practicable without thé tints,
this nomenclature, he now subjoins the animal, vegetable and mineral
substances which Werner and Symes adduced for this purpose—
at the end of the second volume, the tints themselves will be added.