PREFACE. 11* 



source. An almost complete set has beeu remitted to me for publica- 

 tion by Dr. Asa Gray. 



Me. Chaeles Wileoed, collector for the Eoyal Gardens at Kew, 

 remained in Hongkong from November 1857 to June 1858, and re- 

 mitted to this country above 400 species now deposited in the Hookerian 

 herbarium. This collection has been of considerable use to me, the 

 specimens being good, usually in several duplicates, and often accompa- 

 nied by memoranda of their stations, with occasionally a few other notes. 



Col. Champion's herbarium contained also a few specimens gathered by 

 Geneeal (then Lieut.-Col.) J. Etee, E.A,, who also in 1854 showed me a 

 beautiful set of botanical drawings made in the island, from which I took 

 several notes. And lastly, in Sir W. J. Hooker's herbarium is a very fine 

 set of Hongkong ferns transmitted to him by Colonel Uequhaet, and 

 some others from De. Dill, J. C. Bowman, Esq., and T. Alexandee, Esq. 



Such are the materials from the examination of which the present 

 Elora has been compiled. They have been throughout compared with 

 such allied forms from other countries as are contained in the rich 

 Hookerian and other herbaria deposited at Kew, with occasional refer- 

 ence to Linnsean types, where it has been necessary, in clearing up 

 dubious synonyms. I have also to acknowledge most valuable assist- 

 ance received from botanical friends in particular Orders, upon which 

 they liave severally been monographically engaged. I would specially 

 express my thanks to De. T. Andeeson, for the generic arrangement 

 and characters, and specific determination of Acantliacew ; to De. Boott 

 for the determination of the species of Carex ; to Sie "VV. J. Hookee, 

 for the determination of the Ferns ; to De. Lindlet for the determina- 

 tion of Col, Champion's and Mr. Hinds's Orchidece, and for assistance 

 in comparing Hongkong specimens of that and other Orders with his 

 own herbarium ; to Col. Muneo, for the determination of aU the Gra- 

 minecB of the island, with numerous important communications on their 

 generic arrangement and characters ; to Peof. Dan. Olivee, for the 

 communication of his MS. notes on and characters and arrangement 

 of Aurantiacece and of Utrieularia ; and, above all, to De. J. D. Hookee, 

 for his advice and assistance through the whole work, as well as for the 

 communication of the invaluable notes and observations made by him 

 on the living Elora of Sikkim and Khasia, so closely connected with 

 that of Hongkong. I must add, however, that in the case of all the 

 above-named Orders, as well as in the rest of the Flora, I have myself 

 verified, on the specimens themselves, the characters which I have given ; 

 and whilst I fully acknowledge the sources from whence I may have de- 



