X INTRODUCTION 



A valuable discovery from an economic point of view is that 

 of Poga oleosa Pierre (Ehizophoracese), hitherto known only 

 from the Gaboon, the seeds of which are r-emarkably rich in oil. 



As indicated in Mr. Talbot's note the district adjoins the 

 Cameroons and is botanically an extension of the evergreen rain- 

 forest area of that district. The systematic list shews that the 

 flora is practically identical with that of the Cameroons ; a pro- 

 portion approaching half the plants collected has hitherto been 

 known only from that area. Apart from this endemic or 

 Cameroons element there is a strong lepresentation of what may 

 be called the Gulf of Guinea flora, that is of species more or less 

 widely distributed from Sierra Leone to the Gaboon. The more 

 Southern Congo- Angolan element is much less marked and the 

 collection contains comparatively few plants representing a 

 general tropical African distribution. 



In the determination of the plants considerable help has been 

 obtained from the rich tropical African material in the Herbarium 

 of the Royal Gardens, Kew ; our thanks are due to the Director 

 for some determinations in the order Euphorbiacese, and also 

 to members of the Stafi" for advice kindly giAen in connection 

 with other orders. Specimens of a large proportion of Mr. and 

 Mrs. Talbot's plants ha^e also been presented to Kew.— [A. B. II.] 



