A systematic arrangement of British plants / by W. Withering ... Corrected and condensed ; preceded by an introduction to the study of botany ; accompanied with figures by W. Macgillivray.

  • Withering, William, 1741-1799.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A systematic arrangement of British plants / by W. Withering ... Corrected and condensed ; preceded by an introduction to the study of botany ; accompanied with figures by W. Macgillivray. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. Tue following work containsa description of the plants of Great Britain, compiled! from the best authorities, together with a brief Introduction to the Study of Botany, in» which the principal organs of vegetables are described and illustrated by figures. In composing \it, the author has kept several objects in view, a want of attention to which’ has rendered the'performances of our most eminent botanists less useful than they might have been. It has been wished by many persons that botanical descriptions might be freed.as much as possible of foreign words, provided this could be done without’ sacrificing the technical terms, which are in every science necessary for’ preventing verbosity and giving pre- cision and perspicuity.’ A compendious description of our native plants, sufficiently full to: enable the young botanist to determine the species that might come in his way, and at the same’ time neither too bulky for. extraforaneous use, nor too ex- pensive, has also been greatly desired.. Lastly, it were to be wished that such a work should contain the means of enabling the beginner to examine plants without the assistance of others. All these objects have been aimed at in the present work. How far the compiler has succeeded will best be determined by the public. It is unnecessary to be particular in pointing out the sources from which the materials have been derived. The Arrangement of Dr. Withering: was proposed as a basis; but his descriptions have frequently been substituted by others, which are conceived to be more correct. Every body knows