PREFACE 



This Flora contains 81 families, 291 genera, and more than 650 species. 

 -While mailing no claim to being a complete flora of the territory covered, 

 it is believed that it contains all the species likely to-be studied by students 

 in the High Schools and Collegiate Institutes of the Prairie Provinces. 



The arrangement of families follows the order of Engler & Prantl 

 which has now been almost universally adopted, and the nomenclature 

 has been made to conform as closely as possible to the Vienna rules. 

 The capitalization is that of the Index Kewensis, which is now being 

 largely followed, and differs from that of many of the earlier floras in 

 that adjectives derived from names of places are spelled without the 

 capital. 



In- the descriptions the aim has been to introduce only such character- 

 istics as can be observed by the beginner, and as far as possible to bring 

 out the points of contrast between species found in the same locality. 

 While the descriptions have- mostly been written with the plant in hand, 

 yet full reference has been made to all the well-known floras covering 

 the area. The author wishes especially to acknowledge the help derived 

 from the following: "Gray's New Manual of Botany," revised by Rob- 

 inson and Fernald ; "Illustrated Flora," Britton & Brown, both first 

 and second editions; GrayV "Synoptical Flora of North America"; 

 Piper's " Flora of Washington" ; and " A New Manual of Rooky_ Moun- 

 tain Botany," Coulter & Nelson. 



Thanks are also due to the following persons for help : Miss M. E. 

 Moodie and Mx. G. S. Johnson for checking the lists for Alberta and 

 Saskatchewan, respectively.; Mr. J). W. Yuill for trying out and check- 

 ing the key ; Professor B. L. Eobiiison, Harvard University, for confirm- 

 ing a list of names ; Mr. J. M. Macoun, Curator of the Herbarium of the 

 Geological Survey, Ottawa, for constant and invaluable assistance in fur- 

 nishing descriptions -and confirming the determination of species; and 

 to many ex-students of my own who have so kindly sent specimens for 

 identification from all parts of the Canadian West. 



Special mention should also be made of the assistance received from 

 Professor John Macoun 's " Catalogue of Canadian Plants." 



B. J. H. 

 Brandon, 



August 1, 1915. 



