PREFACE 



I^T the following pages I have endeavoured to give a short 

 account of the various plants grooving in these Islands with 

 such remarks as appear to me likely to be useful or interest- 

 mg. The descriptions have been made as simple as possible and 

 mth the assistance of the artificial key, no person of avera-e 

 ability should have any difficulty in making out the name of any 

 plant he may collect, while the Natural System of Classification 

 Which has been followed in the book AviU give him an idea of its 

 affinities, properties, etc. 



More important cultivated plants which have been introduced 

 are referred to under their respective orders, and a list of those of 

 less importance will be found at the end of the book. 



Some few technical terms have, of necessity, been used, but an 

 explanation of these will be found in the Glossary. 



As an apology for introducing this work, I may state that 

 hitherto, the only attempt in this direction has been an alphabet- 

 ical catalogue of plants compiled by Dr. Ilinson from a list left in 

 the Public Library by Governor Lefroy. To this Catalogue I have 

 now added about one hundred and fifty species of indigenous and 

 naturalized plants-a large number considering the small area 

 (twenty square miles) of our Islands. 



