X Introductory. 



of one Sinhalese family employed successively as draftsmen 

 on the Garden staff — Haramanis de Alwis, and George and 

 William de Alwis, his sons. The last-named has been the 

 draftsman for the last twenty-seven years, and most of the 

 drawings here reproduced are his work. It should be added 

 that many of the detailed dissections are the work of Dr. 

 Thwaites. 



I am well aware of the imperfections in the following 

 pages. Many gaps remain to be filled up and doubtful 

 points elucidated, to investigate which I have not had time 

 or opportunity. Much remains to be done by others, and 

 indeed it is only by the co-operation of many observers that 

 anything like completeness in the account of a large tropical 

 flora can be attained. I hope that one result of this publi- 

 cation may be to stimulate such observation and inquiry by 

 those who have the opportunity to make them. These cannot 

 fail to add numerous facts and correct many errors; and I 

 may add that any help, however small, of this kind, if com- 

 municated to me, will be gratefully received and utilised. 



HENRY TRIMEN. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. 

 January, 1893. 



