20* PBEFACE. 



selves, which I have been obliged to shoiten as much as consistent with 

 their practical use, I have endeavoured to select the characters most im- 

 portant to observe for their identification. Many of these descriptions 

 are, I am aware, as yet very imperfect, and some may be in some respect 

 erroneous, especially with regard to stature, colour, and dimensions, owing 

 generally to the insufficiency of the specimens and the want of memo- 

 randa made by those who have seen the plants in a living state. Travel- 

 lers therefore making use of this work in the country will have to guard 

 against attaching much importance to discrepancies in characters which 

 dried specimens cannot show, when the descriptions apply well to the 

 plant they are examining as to form and structure. 



"With regard to the synonymy, I have thought it generally unneces- 

 sary to repeat that which is already detailed in the general works re- 

 ferred to in the case of each well-known species. I have however en- 

 tered into more detail as to the names under which Hongkong species 

 may be entered in works specially relating to South Chinese botany. I 

 have quoted such figures as it may be useful to consult and are contained 

 in works to which the Asiatic, and especially the Indian botanist, is 

 likely to have access ; and I have added, for the general botanist, nume- 

 rous new synonyms which my researches for the identification of Hong- 

 kong species have enabled me to verify. 



The contractions used in the references to works, are those which 

 general custom has sanctioned, following in most cases the rule laid 

 down by De Candolle for abridging authors' names ; that is, to give the 

 first syllable with the first consonant of the second syllable. Initials 

 only are used in the case of DC. for De Candolle, and H. B. and K. for 

 Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth. Dimensions are given in English 

 feet, inches, and lines of twelve to an inch. 



