FOREWORD 



This volume is designed to l)ring together in a sin- 

 gle list, all the vernacular Ucinies l)y which die plants 

 of Northeastern America are known. The material 

 has been gathered from a great variety oi sotirces and 

 though the list can only approximate completeness, it 

 seems comprehensive enough to warrant publication. 

 It is hoped that it will be of value to all who are in- 

 terested in the vernacular names. In any event it 

 will serve to show what is at present known of the 

 subject and facilitate further progress 



The book naturally divides into two parts, the first 

 consisting of the vernacular names arranged under 

 their proper genus and species, and the second a cross- 

 referenced index to the first list. The genera in each 

 family and the species in each genus are arranged 

 alphal^etically, but in an endeavor to indicate the best 

 known vernacular name as well as to distinguish 

 those that are obsolete or misapplied it was found 

 impracticable to arrange the names under each species 

 alphabetically. The plan has been to print the most 

 commonly used name in small capitals, while the oth- 

 ers, in ordinary type, follow somewhat the order of 

 their importance. In the rare cases in which a given 

 plant >B recognized by a different name in different 

 parts of its range, both names are printed in small 

 capitals. It has often been a matter of nice distinc- 

 tion to decide which of two names is more commonly 

 used. Here the author has been obliged to rel>- on 

 his own judgment. He has often followed the usage 

 of botanical manuals but often.also, he has used names 

 which in his experience appear to have a wider cir- 



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