In 16S6, Ray began the publishing of his Historia 

 Plantarum [vol. i, 16S6; 2, 168853, 1704], in which 

 numerous species from Maryland and Virginia are de- 

 scribed. Banister's Catalogue of Virginian Plants was 

 published here. This document is of special interest since 

 it is without much doubt the earliest record, dealing ex- 

 clusively with Virginian plants. Many of the species are 

 recognized at once by anyone familiar with the plants 

 of our region, and in the notes to follow the reprint of 

 Banister 's Catalogue attempts will be made to determ- 

 ine the species and give their history as fully as possible. 



The works of Morison, Hermann, Plukenet, Bobart 

 and others will be referred to in the account of the spe- 



The task of identifying an old species from the de- 

 scriptions only is a difficult one, for itrequires a careful 

 study of the prominent authors of the period in which a 

 species was published. The method of description of two 

 centuries ago presupposes also an intimate knowledge 

 of the older masters and their terminology. This is rea- 

 dily seen if we examine Banister's second species: [^4/- 

 sine Spergula latifolia reptans~\ Becabungae folio. 

 The expression serves both as a name and as a descrip- 

 tion, wherein a knowledge of another plant, Veronica 

 r, is prerequisite. 



I am indebted to Messrs. Frederick V. Coville and 

 P. L. Ricker for their kind aid in the correction of the 

 manuscripts and proofs. 



W ashinorton. D. C. Ivar Tidestrom 



