PREFACE. 
WHEN the Flora Capensis was originally planned, it was intended 
to include the Gnetacew, Conifere, and the Cycadacee. The descrip- 
tion of Welwitschia was prepared for the purpose several years ago 
by the late Professor H. H. W. Pearson, and the Conifers were 
described by Dr. O. Stapf, F.R.S., late Keeper of the Herbarium 
and Library. Sir William Thiselton-Dyer, the Editor of the later 
volumes of the Flora Capensis, had always intended to write the 
account of the South African Cycadacee after his retirement, but 
failing health prevented him from carrying out the project, to 
which he had for many years devoted considerable study. Shortly 
before his death he handed over to me the material he had collected 
together and his notes, expressing the wish that I should undertake 
the work. While in South Africa in 1930, I was able to discuss 
the matter with Dr. Rattray, who has made careful studies of 
the South African Cycads in the field, and has grown most of 
them in his garden. He very kindly agreed to collaborate with 
Mr. J. Hutchinson, F.L.S., in the preparation of the descriptions 
of the Cycads for this supplemental volume. While Mr. Hutchinson 
is mainly responsible for the technical descriptions, Dr. Rattray’s 
intimate knowledge of the plants, as they grow in South Africa, has 
added very greatly to the value of the undertaking. 
The account of Welwitschia has been supplemented by 
Mr. Hutchinson to bring it up to date in the light of recent know- 
ledge. It has been raised to family rank as distinct from Gnetacew 
(Gnetum and Ephedra), with which it has probably little in common 
apart from the Gymnospermous character. Dr. Stapf has largely 
re-written his descriptions of the South African Podocarpacee and 
Cupressacee. . 
The publication of this supplemental part of the Flora Capensis 
has been made possible by the generosity of the Government of the 
Union of South Africa, who on learning, through Kew, of the desire 
expressed by Botanists in South Africa for an account of the Gymno- 
sperms, made a grant of £40 towards its publication. 
