64 MR. SCOTT ELLIOT ON THE BOTANICAL RESULTS 
On the Botanical Results of the Sierra Leone Boundary 
Commission. By G. F. Scorr Exxroz, M.A., F.LS. 
(Read 16th March, 1893.] 
INTRODUCTION. 
TuE object of the Sierra Leone Boundary Commission (to which 
I was attached as botanist) was to trace the boundary of the 
French and English spheres of influence at Sierra Leone. 
During the expedition we passed over about 700 miles, without, 
however, being ever more than 300 miles from the coast or 
reaching a greater height than 3600 feet *. 
At about 2500 feet there were signs of a different flora, such as 
the presence of certain Composites, bulbous plants, and some 
epiphytic orchids which do not, I think, occur below this level ; 
but these signs were quite as distinct on the Sugarloaf Mountain at 
Freetown as on the broad grassy table-like watershed which sepa- 
rates the Niger from those rivers (Scarcies, Rokelle) which flow 
direct to the West Coast. As a whole it is a forest flora of a humid 
evergreen type, and perhaps chiefly characterized by the abund- 
ance of trees and climbers and by a large proportion having thick 
coriaceous, often pinnate leaves and usually inconspicuous flowers. 
The results have been, to me at least, most disappointing. I 
brought home 2200 numbers which have yielded about 1170 
species, amongst which there seem to be two new genera and about 
50 or 60 new or unnamed species, most of which are here described. 
This is partly due to the short time at my disposal (as we were 
only 52 months in the country, of which 80 days were rendered 
blank through fever and weakness), partly to the difficulty of 
drying plants in a very humid climate and when constantly 
travelling, but perhaps chiefly to the extremely thorough way in 
which the flora has been already studied. 
Afzelius was several years at Freetown ; Adanson 6 years in 
Senegambia, Leprieur and Perrottet 5 years, Heudelot 4 years; 
Mr. G. Mann spent 4 years on the coast, Isert and Thonning 
3 years, Beauvois and also Barter 2 years; and Baikie and Vogel 
made important collections besides those mentioned. Many 
others have also worked upon this flora t. 
* According to rough calculation by Major Kenney. 
t+ For example, G. Don, Brass, Burton, Griffon du Bellay, Daniell, Irving, 
Matthews, Purdie, Sieber, Smeathmann, Ch, Smith, Soyaux, Miss Turner, 
Whitfield, Dr, Lester Thomson, C. Thomson, Pogge, H. H. Johns tone, Preuss, 
and others. 
