Abstract
THE author's apology for his little book is that few “Exotic Floras” contain artificial keys to the natural orders, even such as contain keys to the genera and species. But we imagine few persons would attempt working with a flora, exotic or native, without some preliminary knowledge of botany, and especially of the natural orders. Indeed a considerable acquaintance with the subject would be necessary to enable a person to use the present key to advantage. For example, the author begins with “ovules naked,” and “ovules enclosed in an ovary,”&c. Now, to be able to decide this point means a great deal, for a person who could do it would most likely know his gymnosperm without looking at the ovule —even better without, perhaps. The next alternative i between isolated vascular bundles, and vascular bundles in a cylinder, connected with other characters, entailing previous teaching and study, which should largely con sist of acquiring a knowledge of natural orders. Nevertheless this book may prove useful, especially to the collector desirous of determining the natural orders of his plants in the field or at home. So far as we have tested it, it is carefully compiled and edited, and we can conscientiously recommend it to those who know the characters of many natural orders in advance.
Analytical Key to the Natural Orders of Flowering Plants.
By Franz Thonner. Small 8vo. pp. 151. (London: Swan Sonnenschein and Co., 1895.)
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H., W. Analytical Key to the Natural Orders of Flowering Plants. Nature 52, 543–544 (1895). https://doi.org/10.1038/052543b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/052543b0
