Elements of the Philosophy of Plants
Containing the Principles of Scientific Botany; Nomenclature, Theory of Classification, Phythography; Anatomy, Chemistry, Physiology, Geography, and Diseases of Plants

Published in 1820 and translated into English in 1821, this treatise of scientific botany provided significant advances on previous theories.

Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (Author), Kurt Sprengel (Author)

9781108037464, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 December 2011

532 pages, 8 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 3 cm, 0.67 kg

This treatise on scientific botany brings together the works of two leading European scientists from the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Swiss botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1778–1841) and the German botanist and physicist Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel (1766–1833). First published in German in 1820, it was almost immediately translated (anonymously) into English and published in Edinburgh by Blackwood in 1821. This collaborative volume includes three chapters from de Candolle's Théorie élémentaire de la botanique published in Paris in 1819, while the remaining texts and the preface were written by Sprengel; at the time, it provided significant advances on previous botanical theories such as the work of German botanist Carl Ludwig Willdenow (1765–1812). A fascinating document on the evolution of botanical science, the book contains a practical section detailing the characteristics of over forty plants, as well as eight illustrations.

Translator's preface
Sprengel's preface
Introduction
Part I. Nomenclature: 1. General principles
2. Characteristic expressions for forms and qualities
3. Names of the organs
Part II. Taxonomy, or the Theory of Classification: 1. General observations
2. Artificial classification
3. Of the mutual connections of plants
4. On the natural arrangement in general
5. Theory of natural classification
6. Natural arrangement of families
Part III. Phytography, or Descriptive Botany: 1. Of the generic name
2. Of trivial names
3. Delineation of characters
4. Description of plants
5. Synonymy
6. On the form of botanical works
7. Floras
8. Descriptions of gardens
9. Plates of plants
10. General works
11. On collections of plants
Part IV. Phytonomy, of the Structure and Nature of Plants: 1. Phytotomy, or anatomy of plants
2. Pytochemy, or doctrine of the composition of plants
3. Propery phytonomy, or on the life of plants
4. On the distribution of plants upon the Earth
5. History of the distribution of plants
6. On malformations and diseases of plants
7. History of botany
Practical part
Index.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX]