viii INTRODUCTION 



Edwards Bacon most of the Melanthaccac, as well as a number in other families 

 contributed by the author. 



Scientific Names. 



The scientific names of genera and species adopted are in accordance with the 

 code of nomenclature recommended by the Nomenclature Committee of the 

 Botanical Society of America. The fundamental principle of the code is that a 

 specific name is based upon a type specimen and a generic name upon a type 

 species. The code also recognizes the necessity of separating nomenclatorial ques- 

 tions from those that have to do with the interpretation of scientific data, for so 

 long as the eligibility of a name depends upon the status of some other genus or 

 species, stability of nomenclature is impossible. These two fundamentals as well 

 as priority are recognized in all modern codes dealing with the nomenclature of 

 animals and plants. 



As an aid to the pronunciation of the scientific names the accented syllable is 

 marked. When the vowel of the accented syllable is short the acute (') accent is 

 used, when it is long or broad the grave C),. 



English Names. 



In this initial attempt to apply an English name to every plant species in the 

 Pacific States it is realized that some well established local names may have been 

 omitted. Selecting the most suitable common name has not been an easy task, but 

 when a name has appeared in the local manuals or popular floras it has been 

 retained whenever possible. Special attention has also been given Indian and 

 Spanish-Calif ornian names. 



Assistance. 



To the following contributors to this volume the author gratefully acknowl- 

 edges his indebtedness. Much of the merit of the work is due to their hearty 

 cooperation : Mr. William R. Maxon for the text of the Ptcridophyta, except the 

 family Isoetaccac : Dr. Norma PfeifTer for the text of the Isoetaccac ; Professor 

 A. S. Hitchcock for the text of the Ponccac ; Dr. N. L. Britton for the text of the 

 Cyperaceac, except Carer ; Mr. K. K. Mackenzie for the text of Carcx ; Dr. C. R. 

 Ball for the text of Salix, and Mr. F. V. Coville for assistance in preparing the 

 text of the Juncaceae. 



Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Eerris have read the proof-sheets and assisted in the 

 preparation of the index. Dr. J. H. Barnhart has given valuable assistance in 

 bibliographical questions. Miss Alice Eastwood, Dr. W. L. Jepson, Mr. S. B. 

 Parish, Mr. Carl Purdy, Dr. P. A. Rydberg, Professor J. C. Nelson, and Mr. 

 M. W. Gorman have given valuable suggestions and have cordially assisted the 

 author in many ways. 



Eor the loan of herbarium material or privilege of study the author is deeply 

 indebted to the custodians of the various herbaria not only of the Pacific States but 

 also of the leading botanical institutions of the eastern United States and Europe. 



Finally, to Dr. N. L. Britton, Director of the New York Botanical Garden; to 

 the Board of Trustees of Stanford University, and to President Ray Lyman 

 Wilbur, who have jointly made an illustrated flora of the Pacific States financially 

 possible the author and all interested in native plants must ever be deeply grateful. 



LeRoy Abrams 



Stanford University 

 May 15, 1923 



