PEEFACE. 



THIS little book contains brief descriptions of over five hundred 

 species of plants known to grow in the region bounded on the west 

 by the coast line from Monterey Bay to Mendocino County, and on the 

 east by the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Only polypetalous and 

 gamopetalous exogens are described, and of these the orders Umbelliferse 

 and Composite, with a few inconspicuous plants of other orders, are 

 omitted, being considered too difficult for beginners. 



The descriptions are mainly abridged from the large work on Cali- 

 fornia Botany published in uniformity with the Geological Survey Reports. 

 The Analytical Key is essentially the one prepared for that work by Dr. 

 Asa Gray. Several names are changed and a few descriptions modified 

 in accordance with "Gray's Synoptical Flora of North America/' 



Usually only contrasting characteristics of species are retained, since 

 anything more is confusing rather than helpful to the beginner. The 

 habitat of plants is given only when it would be of assistance in deter- 

 mining species. 



All established common names are given. Fortunately our most 

 beautiful plants are well known by their proper generic names. 



A Second Part devoted to the Apetalse and. Edogenous plants, with an 

 Introduction to Systematic Botany will probably be issued within a year. 



Correspondents will confer a favor by pointing out errors and omis- 

 sions. V. E. 



SAN FRANCISCO, February, 1879. 



