PREFACE. 
——— : 
A monograph of the genera Calamus and Daemonorops was prepared by me 
many years ago, as part of a general work on “ Asiatic Palms” which it had 
been my intention to publish in my “Malesia.” The “Istituto di Studi 
Buperiori" of Florence having, however, withdrawn its subsidy towards the 
continuation of the work intended to illustrate the Malayan botanical collections 
gathered by me—collections which had become the property of that Institute— 
my studies of the Asiatic Palms were interrupted, and only a partial use of my 
notes could be made by Sir Joseph Hooker in the sixth volume of the 
“Flora of British India.” | 
The present monograph would probably never have seen the light had it 
not been my good fortune, in 1899, to meet in Florence Sir George King, who 
most courteously and generously offered to arrange for the publication of the 
work in the “Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden of Calcutta,’ of which 
publication he had been the founder. This unexpected and welcome aid 
enabled me, after ten years’ interruption, to resume the stucy of the two 
genera mentioned, and now, thanks to the most valuable help given me 
by Lieut.-Col. D. Prain, the worthy successor to Sir George King in the 
Superintendentship of the Calcutta Botanic C arden and in the  Editorship of 
these “Annals,” this monograph of the genus Calamus is issued, with the hope 
that monographs of Daemonorops and of the remaining Lepidocaryeae, if mot of 
all the Asiatic Palms, may follow. 
In the course of my study of Calamus and Daemonorops I have had the 
advantage of dealing with very extensive material. No pains have been spared. 
in bringing together specimens of these plants from their native countries, The 
greatest liberality has, moreover, been shown by the Directors of the leading 
botanical establishments, who have accorded me full opportunities of making use 
of the collections under their charge. As a result I have been able, except in 
the case of five species described and figured only by Rumph, but not met 
with again by modern botanists, to provide a description of my own and to 
take a photograph of every one of the some 200 known species of Calamus. 
‘The list of those who. have in various ways aided me in my work. is a 
oe one, and I cannot too heartily and gratefully acknowledge the valuable 
assistance I have received from so many friendly helpers; but I feel above 
all deeply indebted to Sir George King and to  Lieut.-Col  Prain, 
since these gentlemen have provided me with an opportunity of publishing this 
work. accompanied by natural-size phototype reproductions of my negatives. I 
am also under much obligation to them for sets of the Calami, and other — 
Palms ‘from the Calcutta Herbarium, placed freely at my nem whenever 
required. I have likewise to express my thanks to Captain A. T. Gage, 
Ann. Ror. Bor. Garp. CarcurrA Vor, XI. 
