by De CandoUe (1S18-73), has been officially organized in the Genera Plantarum 

 of Bentham and Hooker (Kew, 1862-83), ^"'^ further emended and extended in the 

 Pflanzenfamilien of Engler and Prantl (Berlin, 1 889-1 908). Pending a further 

 revision of the whole field by an accepted and competent authority, the text of the 

 last stands as the ultimate appeal. 



For purposes of general investigation a method of Plant Description is required, 

 expressed in concise and readily intelligible phraseology, a method of interpretation of 

 floral construction in terms of a Floral Diagram, and again as scale-drawings in 

 Sectional Elevation: in addition, data for time-factors, and details of the working 

 mechanism in relation to insects and other external agencies, the structural details of 

 the fruit, and the biology of seed-dispersal. Much of the older literature is expressed 

 in obsolete terminology which reflects antiquated points of view. Hence new descrip- 

 tions, in plain English, new figures, and especially accurate data for floral biology and 

 general ecology are urgently required ; and the fieUi is limitless. 



The Genera Plantarum of Kew, thougli obsolete botanically, is still largely 

 oflicial for British Government Departments. For present purposes the compromise 

 adopted by Brandis (1911) will be followed as far as possible; this being so far the 

 official presentation for Indian foresters. Large, well-diflferentiated petaloid flowers 

 are conveniently dealt with first ; smaller reduced, or more elementary forms present- 

 ing greater difficulty, may be taken later. Hence Polypetalous Thalamiflorae are 

 followed by Eucyclic Disciflorae, and these by Calyciflorae. The Gamopetalae 

 {' Sympetalae ') in mm by I\Ionochlam}'deae which comprise a mixture of some possibly 

 more archaic types with many undoubtedly reduced and secondarily ' apeialous '. 

 iSIonocotyledons, as of minor arboreal importance are left till last, though containing 

 phyla of extremely divergent and advanced organization ; and some reference is made 

 to Gvmnosperms. 



Though often minimized in Modern Botany, a practical acquaintance with 

 a wide range of Angiospermous plants, their nomenclature and classification, is still 

 an integral part of the equipment of every working botanist ; as an intimate know- 

 ledge of the living plant in all iis phases and mechanism is the only sure basis for all 

 economic or technological exploitation of available natural resources of the plant- 

 kingdom, on which the human race is still wholly dependent. The broader lines of 

 geographical ecology, as also methods of culture and the utilization of economic pro- 

 ducts, are referred to standard text-books on Indian forestry : — 



For General Literature, cf. : — 

 Brandis (191 1), Indian Trees. 

 Gamble (1902), A iManual of Indian Timbers. 

 Troup (19 1 3), Indian Forest Uiilization. 

 Troup (1921), The Silviculture of Indian Trees. 

 SehiiHper (1903'), Plant Geography, Eng. Trans. 

 Engkr-Pranll (1889-97), Pflanzenfamilien. 



For Illustrations, cf. the older floras : — 



ir/V'/'i/ (IMadias, 1840-50), Illustrations of Indian Botany, 2 vols. 

 Wight (Madras, 1840-50), Icones Plantarum Indiae Orientalis, 6 vols. 

 Roxburgh (1795). Plants of the Coast of Coromandel, 3 vols. 

 Beddome (Madras), The Flora Sylvaiica for Southern India, 2 vols. 

 Wallieh (1830), Plantae Asiaticae Rariores, 3 vols. 



Brandis (1874), Illustrations of the Forest Flora of North-West and Central 

 India. 



