PREFACE. ix 
however, the Editor is sure, will be hailed by every friend of 
Botany, and by every one interested in the vegetable produc- 
tions of Western Tropical Africa, as a Prodromus of a Flora of 
that region ;—something upon which a more perfect super- 
structure will be hereafter built: and he begs the particular 
attention of Travellers in the Niger territories, and coasts 
adjacent, to the subjoined “ Desiderata” in the principal branches 
of botanical science. 
In the present brief, general preface it only remains for the 
Editor to express his grateful acknowledgements to the dis- 
tinguished Botanists who have aided in bringing out this 
volume. Dr. J. D. Hooker had volunteered to describe the 
whole of the plants, but unexpectedly, when considerably 
advanced in the work, an opportunity offering of exploring 
regions of a widely different character from those of thé present 
Flora, and which was embraced by him, the assistance of others 
was rendered essentially necessary. Mr. P. B. Webb, already 
so familiar with the vegetation of the Canary Isles, and the 
opposite coasts of Africa, generously undertook to describe 
all the Cape de Verd Islands Plants, Dr. Miquel the Fici, 
Mr. Miers the Menispermee, and last, but not least in point 
of extent of service, it devolved upon our inestimable friend, 
Mr. Bentham, to publish the majority of the plants of the 
continent of Tropical Western Africa. 
EDITOR. 
Rovar GARDENS, Kew, 
Nov. 1, 1849. 
