Popular field botany; containing a familiar and technical description of the plants most common to the various localities of the British Isles, adapted to the study of either the artificial or natural systems

Front matter

POPULAR

FIELD BOTANY;

CONTAINING-

Preface

Small and inexpensive works on Botany have been repeatedly published, but none calculated to be really and practically useful to children, or those commencing the study, if they wish to pursue the subject unassisted by botanists. There are many pleasing treatises on the subject, containing interesting information respecting the plants of which they treat ; but it appears almost useless to detail all these circumstances to those who are unacquainted with the plants themselves. The first knowledge necessary is the name of the flower, and with this the information acquired is practically useful; without it, vague, and unsatisfactory. The object, therefore, of this introductory work is, to enable young persons with little difficulty to discover the scientific names of the common plants they may find in their country rambles ; a few in-

VI.

PREFACE.

teresting facts are also given respecting their uses, habits, and peculiarities ; and when more information is required, reference can be easily made to the valuable works of Sowerby, Hooker, and Lindley ; those authors will then be clearly understood and fully appreciated. The f English Botany 9 of Mr. Sowerby, to which this little volume forms a stepping stone, is perhaps the most useful, as it contains figures of every known British plant.

The present volume is suited to both the Linnsean or artificial, and the natural systems of classification, that either may be pursued. Chapter 1. introduces the subject, explains the plan of the work, and details the method of forming a Hortus Siccus. Chapter 2. treats of classification, giving tables of the natural and artificial systems; and explanations of the principal botanical terms. Chapters 3 to 10 contain accounts of the plants to be procured during the spring, summer, and autumnal seasons. And the concluding chapters are devoted to the Mosses, Lichens, and Sea- weeds.

ERRATA.

Page 18, line 8, for “ Polygamia,” read Polygynia.

„ 19, line 1, after “ filaments in,” add, two.

,, 37, The families of Aphyllse are described in Chapters 11 and 12.

„ 41, line 5 from the bottom, for “ shapes,” read shape.

,, 86, line 7 from the bottom, for “powers,” read flowers.

,, 88, line 4 from the bottom, after “ mountainous,” read countries.

„ 135, line 3 from the bottom, for “ Heloscladium,” read Helosciadium.

„ 141, for “ Vaccinum,” read Vaccinium.

„ 142, line 6 from the top, for “ Cowberry,” read Cranberry.

„ 167, to “Hieraceum pilosella,” add Plate II. Fig. 43.

„ 223, after “Spergula arvensis,” add, Plate XIII. Fig. 51.

„ 276, last line, for “eaves,” read leaves.

ENGLISH

ALPHABETICAL INDEX.

Page

Agrimony 22 4 j

Alder 71

Anemone wood 102

Apple-tree, crab-tree .... 100

Archangel, white 58

Ash, common 81

Avens, Herb bennet .... 228

water ib.

Badderlocks 879

Bartsia, red. 306

Basil thyme 34 2

— wild 343

Bedstraw, cross-leaved ... 127

— great hedge . . 193

— smooth heath . . ib.

white, water . . 261

Beech 115

Bell-flower, clustered .... 270

corn ib.

Page

Bell-flower Ivy-leaved . . 270

• nettle-leaved. . ib.

spreading. ... 269

Betony, wood 301

Bilberry 141

great 142

Bindweed, great 209

sea-side ib.

■ small ib.

Birch, common . 116

dwarf 117

Bird’s-foot, common .... 243

Bird’s-nest 171

Bistort, snake-weed 217

Blackberry 226

Blackthorn 54

Bladder campion 219

Blue-bottle 326

Borage 203

Box-holly 73

X.