PREFACE. 



The object of this Flora is to present descriptions of the seed-plants, ferns 

 and fern-allies growing naturally within the southeastern United States as limited 

 by the northern boundaries of North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Indian 

 Territory and Oklahoma, and the one hundredth Meridian, together with the 

 known geographical distribution of each species. The usual flowering-period is 

 given after the geographical distribution, except in cases where plants bloom 

 throughout the year. 



The arrangement of the higher plant-groups is essentially that of Engler 

 and Prantl in their Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien, except where modifications 

 of the sequence there adopted have seemed to be desirable. 



Analytical keys formed by the contrasting of diagnostic characters precede 

 the descriptions of the families, genera and species, while a general key to the 

 orders precedes the main body of the Flora. 



The collections on which the work is based are mainly at the New York 

 Botanical Garden. The manuscript of several groups has been prepared else- 

 where by specialists, as indicated in the text. 



To the custodians of the larger herbaria of the country, I wish to express 

 my thanks for opportunities afforded for the examination of specimens desirable 

 for study, during the prosecution of my investigations. I also take pleasure in 

 acknowledging important assistance by my associates, Dr. N. L. Britton, Prof. 

 L. M. Underwood, Dr. P. A. Rydberg, Mr. G. V. Nash, Dr. J. H. Barnhart and 

 Mr. R. M. Harper ; by Mr. C. D. Beadle, Director of the Biltmore Herbarium 

 and his associates ; by Prof. W. L. Bray, of the University of Texas, Mr. A. M. 

 Huger of North Carolina, Mr. A. Cuthbert of Georgia and Prof. S. W. Stanfield 

 of Texas. 



J. K. SMALL. 



THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN, 

 July 22, 1903. 



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