PREFACE. 
The object of this Flora is to present descriptions of the seed-plants, ferns 
and fern-allies growing naturally within the southeastern United States as limited 
by the northern boundaries of North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Indian 
Territory and Oklaboma, and the one hundredth Meridian, together with the 
known geographical distribution of each species. The usual flowering-period is 
given after the geographical distribution, except in cases where plants bloom 
throughout the year. 
The arrangement of the higher plant-groups is essentially that of Engler 
and Prantl in their Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien, except where modifications 
of the sequence there adopted have seemed to be desirable. 
Analytical keys formed by the contrasting of diagnostie characters precede 
the descriptions of the families, genera and species, while a general key to the 
orders precedes the main body of the Flora. 
The collections on which the work is based are mainly at the New York 
Botanical Garden. The manuscript of several groups has been prepared else- 
where by specialists, as indicated in the text. 
To the custodians of the larger herbaria of the country, I wish to express 
my thanks for opportunities afforded for the examination of specimens desirable 
for study, during the prosecution of my investigations. Ialso take pleasure in 
acknowledging important assistance by my associates, Dr. N. L. Britton, Prof. 
L. M. Underwood, Dr. P. A. Rydberg, Mr. G. V. Nash, Dr. J. H. Barnhart and 
Mr. R. M. Harper ; by Mr. C. D. Beadle, Director of the Biltmore Herbarium 
and his associates ; by Prof. W. L. Bray, of the University of Texas, Mr. A. M. 
Huger of North Carolina, Mr. A. Cuthbert of Georgia and Prof. S. W. Stanfield 
of Texas. 
J. K. SMALL. 
THE NEw Yonk BOTANICAL GARDEN, 
July 22, 1903. 
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