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APPENDIX. No. V. 



Observations, Systematical and Geographical, on Professor Christian 

 Smith's Collection of Plants from the Vicinity of the River Congo, by 

 Robert Brown, F. R. S. 



The Herbarium formed by the late Professor Smith and his assistant Mr. 

 David Loci<hart, on tlie banks of the Congo, was, on its arrival in England, 

 placed at the disposal of Sir Joseph Banks ; under whose inspection it has 

 been arranged ; the more remarkable species have been determined ; and the 

 whole collection has been so far examined as the very limited time which could 

 be devoted to this object allowed. 



In the following pages will be found the more general results only of this 

 examination ; descriptions of the new genera and species being reserved for a 

 future publication. 



In communicating these results I shall follow nearly the same plan as that 

 adopted in the Botanical Appendix to Captain Flinders's Voyage to Terra 

 Aiistralis : 



1st. Stating what relates to the three Primary Divisions of Plants. 

 2dly. Proceeding to notice whatever appears most remarkable in the several 

 Natural Orders of which the collection consists; and, 



3dly. Concluding with a general comparison of the vegetation on the line of 

 tlie river Congo, with that of other equinoctial countries. 



I. The number of species in the herbarium somewhat exceeds 600; the 

 specimens of several of which are, indeed, imperfect ; but they are all referable 

 with certainty to the primary divisions, and, with very few exceptions, to the 

 natural orders to which they belong. 



Of the Primary Divisions, the Dicotyledonous plants amount to 460 

 The Monocotyledonous to - - - - 113 



And of the Acotyledonous, in which Ferns are included, there are 



only - - - - - 33 species. 



It is a necessary preliminary, with reference especially to the first part of my 



subject, to determine whether this herbarium, wliich was collected in a period 



not exceeding two months, and in a season somewliat unfavourable, can warrant 



