PREFACE. 



Desiring to promote the study of botany in the educational 

 institutions of the State, and to awaken an interest in the explor- 

 ation of the Flora of Tennesseee, I tender this small volume to 

 the friends and promoters of scientific pursuits. 



The work is original, being founded upon a botanical collec- 

 tion made exclusively by myself, during thirty-eight years' res- 

 idence in this State. 



I am yet in possession of specimens collected in 1849, when 

 [ first took up my residence in East Tennessee as a practicing 

 physician. Placed, as I was in those early days, amid unfamiliar 

 modes of life, with no access to intellectual resources, without 

 information about the condition and advance of scientific affairs 

 in this country, my botanical progress could for many years 

 be no other than tedious and slow; but I kept up a pursuit, 

 which since early school-years had been to me a source of pleas- 

 ure and consolation. 



After my removal to Nashville, in 1864, I paid special atten- 

 tion to the exploration of the vicinity of Nashville and the 

 adjoining counties. Travel by railroads made it possible to 

 make frequent short visits to distant points, without too great 

 infringement on professional duties. 



Although in an educational center, filled with display of 

 refinement, I soon perceived that I had to rely upon ray own 

 resources, if I would attempt to expand my botanical efforts 

 beyond the limits of personal gratification. For the want of 

 such blessed leisure as would be needed to assure success, I never 

 expected to publish on the Flora, considering the results of my 

 investigations too insignificant. That I have now prepared this 

 paper is purely contingent upon the meeting of the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science, in Nashville, August, 

 1877. 



At that occasion I had the good fortune of making acquaint- 

 ance with some well-known Eastern botanists, who, with very 

 obliging politeness, reviewed my collections, and assured me 

 that a survey of the unexplored region of Tennessee would be 

 appreciated. At their instance I continued, with all care and 



17U361 



