PREFACE. 



THE purpose of these pages is to furnish a complete Index of 

 British Flowering Plants and Ferns. 



The work is based upon the London Catalogue, Part I., 8th Edition, 

 and contains all the names there found, together with all the ad- 

 ditional names of species under which descriptions are given in ten 

 of the best known English botanical works, viz. : English Botany ; 

 Bentham's Handbook; Babington's Manual; Hooker's Student's 

 Flora; British Wild Flowers; Lindley's Synopsis; Hooker and 

 Arnott's British Flora ; Withering's Arrangement ; Notcutt's Hand- 

 book ; Hayward's Pocket-Book. 



The corresponding name in the London Catalogue is indicated in 

 most cases in the text by the sign of equality, while the foot-notes 

 give for each name from the London Catalogue the synonyms used 

 in the works above mentioned. 



The compiler, though conscious that the result of his attempt is 

 not all that he could desire, ventures to hope that it may in some 

 degree lessen the perplexities of nomenclature to the botanist. 



In the side columns are given references to the numbers in the 

 London Catalogue, the figures in English Botany, 3rd Edition, and 

 Fitch and Smith's Illustrations of Bentham's British Flora. A name 

 in brackets is one which has been suggested, from the most recent 

 results of the study of authorities, as preferable to the accompanying 

 name from the London Catalogue. The census number, where it 

 has been recorded, is added in larger type to each plant, also the 

 time of flowering, &c. 



Names in italics (indicating aliens) and the names of authorities 

 in brackets (indicating that these authorities regarded the plant as 

 a species) stand as they appear in the London Catalogue. 



Special attention has been given to the accentuation, which has 

 been based, as far as possible, on the derivation of the words (where 

 this is known), and as a further aid to pronunciation the quantity 

 of a syllable has occasionally been marked. 



The compiler desires to record his sincere thanks to many 

 friends for valuable suggestions and advice, especially to 

 Mr. B. Daydon Jackson and the late Rev. J. H. Thompson. 



