1888.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 449^ 



The Conservator's report to the Section, giving the details of these- 

 additions, is added as a part of this report. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Thomas Me eh an, 



Vice-Director. 



Conservator's Report for 1888. — The Conservator of the Botanical' 

 Section reports that during the year closing Dec. 10th, the additions- 

 to the herbarium consist of 2525 species, of which 2296 are vascular 

 jilants, and 229 are Lichens, Fungi and Alga?. Of the 2296 specie& 

 of vascular plants 1040 are believed to be new to our collection, 77 

 of them being of genera not before represented. 693 species are- 

 North America, 1414 are from Tropical America, 171 from the East- 

 ern Continent, and 18 are Australian. 



It is gratifying to know that the rate of increase has not declined,, 

 and that so large a portion of it is of forms not previously represent- 

 ed. 



The most important addition of the past year is the completion of 

 the collections made by Dr. H. H. Rusby in Bolivia and the neigh- 

 boring regions in 1885 and 1886, consisting of 983 species of Avhicb 

 nearly 600 are believed to be new to us. Including the portion of 

 this collection received by us the previous year, the whole consists 

 of 1433 species. These have been contributed by members of the- 

 Section, supplemented by the proceeds of duplicate plants sold by- 

 its order. Other valuable additions to our representation of the 

 flora of Tropical America are — 266 species collected by C. G. 

 Pringle in the Province of Coahuila, Mexico, and ]00 .species 

 collected in the Mexican Province of Tabasco and presented by Sr. 

 Jose N. Rovirosa, from whom w^e have reason to expect further con- 

 tributions. 



The number of species of vascular plants in the herbarium of the 

 Academy, at the date of the last report, was estimated at . 27,26T 

 to which add the accession of new species of this year . 1,040> 

 giving the estimated present total ..... 28,307 

 of which 8200 are North American, that is from the region covered 

 by Gray's Synoptical Flora. 



In May last was completed the work of mounting the special 

 herbarium of North American plants. This Avork Avas begun un 

 1878, and has been continued from year to year in the intervals of 

 other duties. In this the Conservator received most efficient aid 

 30 



