PREFACE. 



This Flora of the Miami Valley, I have prepared 

 for the Botanical Section of the Literary Union, at 

 the suggestion of Hon. A. D. Wilt, President of 

 the Society. It embodies the results of rambles 

 after plants, during many summers, in various parts 

 of the valley of the Miami. 



Never having in view presenting my researches 

 in systematic shape or putting them in permanent 

 form, 1 did not aim, at any time, to make thorough 

 and exhaustive work. My studies of plants have 

 been pursued as a delightful recreation — as a relax- 

 ation from toil and business. No one, then, more 

 than myself, can be aware of the deficiencies of the 

 catalogue of jjlants here presented. Several of the 

 Natural Orders are little worked uj). This is plain 

 in reference to Orasses and Sedges; it is also true in 

 reference to the aipiatic |)kints of most of the orders. 

 It is ho|)ed that students of Botany in every part 



c<|f the region will feel stimulated to look for jjlants 



^ot found in the catalogue, in order to make uj) these 



'^Beficiencies in a future edition. 



(;-^ I am indebted to Mrs. K. j. Si'K.nck, of Spring- 



field, ()., for a list of the Ferns, Mosses, Hepaticai, 

 <:jand Lichens which she has collected in that locality. 



