998. Plants are described by the use of language alone, or, by the use of language and figures, or models, or dried plants conjoined. The object of description is to enable any person to recognise a known species after its station has been discovered in a classification ; and also to put those who have never scon the plant to be described, in possession of the facts necessary to acquire a just notion of its structure and affinities. (Lindl. Introd. 3d ed. p. 432.) We constantly find travellers, and others, attempting to describe a plant in vulgar language; ' but their accounts are often so vague, that no distinct idea can be formed of the subject of their descriptions, which remains an enigma, until some botanist, following their steps, shall happen to be able to put its characters into scientific language.' (Ibid.)