INTKODUCTION. 



grounds. On the other liand, in a district so extensive, and, 

 in some portions, so imperfectly explored, wo may anticipate 

 that a few plants still remain to bo discovered, as well as 

 many additional facts to be recorded regarding the distribu- 

 tion of those already mot with. 



Our meagre botanical literature has been made use of to 

 its full extent, as follows : two or three local references 

 in the works of Hudson and Ray ; a few pamphlets and 

 manuscripts; some notices of Bristol plants, published chiefly 

 in the Phytologist ; and Swote's "Flora Bristolionsis," issued 

 in'. 1854. Of the MS., a catalogue of Somersetshire plants 

 by W. Solo, in the possession of Mr. T. B. Flower, is tho 

 most important. The notices in periodicals were mostly 

 written by Mr. Flower, whoso acquaintance with Bristol 

 botany covers a period of half a century. He supplied a 

 very lai'ge number of the localities given in Sweto's "Flora," 

 and to liiTti we also are much iudobted f(ji' many interesting 

 and valuable communications. Witheriiig's "Arrangement" 

 contains many references to tho vicinity of Bristol, but they 

 are little to bo relied on, and wo have not thought it advis- 

 able to quote them, unless when confirmed by recent obser- 

 vation. 



The Herbarium of tho late Miss Powell, which is housed 

 in tho Bristol Museum, and that of the late Dr. Stephens, 

 now the projjorty of our Society, are oxcellont collections of 

 local plants, raado by trustworthy botanists. In them we 

 have found specimens of great value, often corroborating 

 book records which, in the absence of ccmfirmation, might 

 have been deemed unreliable and worthless ; and in some 

 instances furnishing examples of plants that cannot now be 

 found, and may since have become extinct. These coUc^ctions 

 also possess the additional interest tliat they snppb'ed a con- 

 siderable proportion of the localities mentioned l)y Swete, 



