FLOKA OF 13EEMUD.V 45 



to these 864 cultivated plants are mentioned or described in these 

 pages. 



The full and clear descriptions of the Sperniatophyta, Pteridophyta, 

 and Bryopliyta are accompanied by figures, usually excellent though 

 occasional!}^ — e. g. Foly(jo)ium Co)i vol cuius — hardly representing the 

 usual appearance of the plant. We have failed to tind any indication 

 of the artist whose work has added so much to the attractiveness and 

 usefulness of the book. Except where otherwise indicated, Dr. Britton 

 is responsible for the work ; Mrs. Britton has undertaken theBryophyta ; 

 in the Thallophyta the Lichens are contributed by Prof. Lincoln W. 

 Kiddle, the Fungi by Dr. Fred. J. Leaven, and the Algae by Dr. Marshall 

 A. Howe. 



The nomenclature adopted is that which prevails in many American 

 books and is thus not always in accordance with the more generally 

 accepted Vienna rules. Trinomials are used for *' races or varieties " ; 

 " priority of place " and '' once a synonym always a synonym " are 

 accepted as principles ; names are duplicated — e. g. Fagopijrum 

 Faffopyrum ; and the original spelling is observed in such names as 

 Coccolobis^ Canavali, and Cajan. The division and limitation of 

 genera has introduced names which have not hitherto appeared in 

 British books — such are Tiniaria Convolvulus " Webb. & Moq." 

 i^Folygonuin)^ Mlcrostirjma incana " (L.) Britton " {Matthiola), 

 Ccwara didyma " (L.) Britton" {Senebiera), Xanfhoxalis conii- 

 culata "(L.) J. K. Small" and X. stricta ** (L.) J. K. Small" 

 (^Oxalis) ; others although not entirel}^ new are unfamiliar, such 

 as Cymhalaria Cyinhalarla "(L.) Wettst." and Kickxia Flatine 

 *' (L.) Dumort." {Linaria). 



The material upon which the book is based was the result of 

 various exj)editions carried out by Dr. Britton and Mr. Stewartson 

 Brown between 190-5 and 1918, with the assistance on some occasions 

 of Mrs. S. Britton and Dr. Seaver. A list of the " principal botanical 

 collections made in Bermuda " and a bibliography are appended : it 

 would appear from the former that no plants were collected there 

 between 1699 — the latest date of John Dickinson's gatherings — and 

 A. W. Lane's collections made prior to 1845, Dickinson — here and 

 elsewhere misspelt Dickenson — really collected considerably earlier, 

 for Petiver (Mus. Pet. viii, 80; Dec, 31, 1700) acknowledges "plants 

 lately sent from Bermudas (besides 2 collections some ^^ears agoe) 

 with assurances of larger performances." These ** assurances " do 

 not seem to have been realised, as only thirteen species labelled 

 as from him are in the Petiver and Plukenet collections in the 

 Sloane Herbarium, Of these five are of special interest : atten- 

 tion was tirst directed to these by Dr. Hemsley in this Journal 

 for 1883, where Ei'if/eron JJarrellianus and Carex hermudiana were 

 lirst described : the latter was only known from Dickinson's specimens 

 until 1905, when it was rediscovered by Dr. Britton. The endemic 

 Sist/7'inchium, long confused with S. ouf/usti folium Mill., was shown 

 to be distinct by Dr. Hemsley in this Journal for 1884, and is still so 

 regarded: Dr. Britton says " it doubtless originated, however, from 

 seed of one of the Continental species bi'ought to Bermuda by a bird 

 or on the wind, the plant becoming differentiated through isolation 



