INTRODUCTION. 



THE present volume completes the Botany of California so far as it can 

 be at this time satisfactorily done. An attempt was made to add tlie 

 remaining Cellular Acrogens (the Hepaticae and Characeae), but scarcely any 

 material has been collected in these orders excepting that which was dis- 

 tributed by Mr. Henry N. Bolander nearly fifteen years ago, much of which 

 is now scattered and not accessible. The services of the late Mr. Coe F. 

 Austin were secured for the Hepaticae, but the manuscript as left by him 

 proved to be too incomplete to allow of its publication. In the present transi- 

 tional and somewhat chaotic state of the orders of Thallogens it was found 

 inadvisable, not to say impossible, to furnish generic and specific descriptions 

 of Californian forms in anticipation of the results of the general revisions 

 which these orders are now undergoing at the hands of competent specialists. 

 Simple lists of such reputed genera and species as have been collected in 

 California were prepared, of the Lichenes by the kindness of Prof. Edward 

 Tuckerman, of the Alg* by Prof. W. G. Farlow, and of the Fungi by Dr. 

 H. W. Harkness and Mr. J. P. Moore. It was seen, however, that these 

 would add materially to the bulk of an already sufficiently large volume, as 

 well as delay its publication ; and inasmuch as they would be of no use to 

 the many and could be of little good to any, they have been wholly omitted. 

 The list of Fungi has been published in the Proceedings of the California 

 Academy, where it is readily accessible. 



Several of the more important and difficult orders and genera in this 

 volume have been furnished by specialists of the highest authority in their 

 several departments. Dr. George Engelmann has elaborated the Oaks, the 

 Pines and their allies, and the Loranthacea?. M. S. Bebb, Esq , has done the 

 same for the Willows. William Boott, Esq., has supplied the portion upon 

 the Carices, Dr. George Thurber the Grasses, and Prof. Daniel C. Eaton the 



