VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND SYSTEMATIC BOTANY: BY WILLIAM B. CARPENTER, M.D., F.R.S., F.G.S., AUTHOR OF "PRINCIPLES OF GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY," AND OF A New and Enlarged Edition. LONDON: WM. S. ORR AND Co., PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCXLVIII. THE object of the following Treatise is to communicate such a general view of the structure and growth of plants, and of their natural classification, as should be at the same time popular in its form and scientific in its principles. The botanist has too frequently concerned himself, almost or quite exclusively, about the collection of specimens, the examination of their external characters, and the determination of their names; all the wonders and beauties of their internal structure, and the interest derivable from the observation of the uses of their several parts or organs, being very commonly overlooked. It is not among the least of the advantages of the natural system of classification, that, as its divisions are founded upon correspondences and differences in internal conformation, instead of being based upon external characters only, the general adoption of it has necessarily caused much more attention to be paid to the organization of plants; and this has naturally led to increased observation of their functions and habits of life, to the study of the conditions on which their growth and propagation are dependent, M363816 |