xxii Introduction. 



other specimens of the same with this description. But I have, 

 of course, compared all these descriptions of my own with those 

 of the same plants already in print, especially Hooker's and 

 DalzelFs, and in all cases of marked difference have done my 

 best to find out the cause and clear up the discrepancy. It 

 must be remembered that a certain amount of difference is 

 inevitable, and does not mean generally that one observer 

 or another has made a mistake since great variations are 

 found, and are to be looked for, in different specimens of 

 the same species, depending on different circumstances of soil, 

 climate, etc. 



Besides the short scientific description of each species, given 

 in as easy technical language as may be, I have made special 

 mention of any peculiarities likely to strike the unscientific 

 observer when he first sees the plant, as the unusual size, 

 shape, or colour of any particular part, unusual modes of 

 growth, &c. 



Following this are, in as many cases as possible, the native 

 names of the plants, and as to these I have gone on a very 

 simple principle, i.e. to set down all the names that I could 

 find from any source whatever, provided they professed to 

 belong to this side of India ; and I have not thought it 

 necessary, under this very inclusive arrangement, to give 

 authorities for the names. But it is necessary to say that I 

 do not myself attach very much importance to this matter of 

 native names. In the case of very well-known trees or re- 

 markable shrubs there are generally one or two names almost 

 universally known ; but as regards the rest, and I should say 

 almost all herbs, the names are, I believe, not only very local, 

 but also very indiscriminately applied. My experience is that 

 very few natives know the names of more than a very few 

 plants, and that they apply the few names they know with 

 great latitude ; in fact, I have sometimes suspected a facile 

 villager of making up names on the spot for the benefit of the 

 questioner. I quote the great authority of Sir Joseph Hooker 

 in support of this view : " Throughout our travels in India 

 we were struck with the undue reliance on the native names 

 of plants and information ot all kinds, and the pertinacity 

 with which each linguist adhered to his own crotchet as to the 

 application of terms to natural objects, and their pro- 

 nunciation. It is a very prevalent but erroneous impression 

 that savage and half-civilized people have an accurate know- 



