2 FLORA INDICA. 



explain the principles by which they are guided in the execu- 

 tion of similar works to this. 



4. An historical summary of the labours of our predecessors 

 in Indian botany, whether as authors or collectors, and some 

 account of the materials at our disposal. 



5. A sketch of the meteorology and climate of India, the 

 excessive complexity of whose seasons offers the most formi- 

 dable obstacle to the student's appreciation of the prominent 



features of its vegetation. 



* * 



6- An attempt to divide the area embraced in the Flora 

 Indica into physico-gcographical or geographico -botanical dis- 

 tricts. This is intended to serve the double purpose of giv- 

 ing a slight sketch of the physical characters and vegetation 

 of these provinces, and of adopting such a carefully-selected 

 system of nomenclature, as shall be available for assigning 

 intelligible localities to the species in the body of the Flora, 

 and such as may be easily committed to memory, or found 

 with little trouble on any map. We have long deplored the 

 defective geographical nomenclature adopted in almost every 

 work treating of the Natural History of India, and the fact 

 that u E. Ind." or " Ind. Or." is considered in most cases suf- 

 ciently definite information as to the native place of any pro- 

 duction found between Ceylon and Tibet, or Cabul and Sin- 

 gapur ; and we hope that the present attempt to remedy so 

 important a defect will be received with indulgence. 



I. Object, scope, and design of the Flora Indica. 



Our object, in the work here commenced, is to present a 

 systematic account of the vegetable productions of British 

 India, arranged according to natural principles, and based upon 

 a careful examination of all the materials within our reach. 

 Besides the descriptions of the Orders, Genera, and Species, all 

 matters of importance connected with anatomical, structural, 



ni 



ill 



practicable, be treated of, and in other cases pointed out as 



