Preface. 



With this pamphlet I purpose to begin a series of publications 

 which ■will be devoted to the investigation of our Asiatic colonial Flora. 



Up to this time, many different nations, English, French, Dutch 

 and above all the Spanish, (to mention onl}^ the names of Blanco, 

 ViLLAR and ViDAT.), have taken part in the investigations of the flora 

 of the Philippines. 



Now that these in many respects little known Islands, have 

 come into the possession of the United States, it will be an honor- 

 able task for the American botanists to devote their energies to 

 the plant world of the Philippines. 



Realizing the importance of the theme, I have undertaken to 

 work up the old and new collections belonging to the Berlin Museum. 



Prof. Warburg has permitted me the use of his extensive and 

 extremely valuable Philippine material, which collection, with the 

 duplicates of the plants that Mr. Meeeill and Capt. Ahp:rx have been so 

 assiduously collecting in the Philippines, and have sent to the Berlin 

 Museum, has formed the most important foundation for my publi- 

 cation. In order to secure a reliable starting-point for all determina- 

 tions, it is absolutely necessary to compare the plants with the types 

 contained in the European herbaria. 



The work of the Spanish botanists, which was carried on with 

 a diligence deserving of great praise, failed in many cases of the 

 expected results, because they were not in a position to study the 

 originals of the early established species. 



