PREFACE. 



The Middlesex Scientific Field Club published 

 in the Maiden Mirror, through the season of 18S0, 

 monthly lists of plants found within the limits of Mai- 

 den and Medford. Originally designed for the use of 

 young botanists, these lists are now given by the 

 "Middlesex Institute in a form more convenient for 

 reference. It is not intended to imply that a species 

 is to be found only in the month to which it is here 

 assigned; many continue in bloom much longer, 

 while individual plants can be found by the attentive 

 observer earlier than here given; the intention is to 

 give under each month, the species which then first 

 appear under ordinary conditions. The trees, grasses, 

 and sedges, which were not included in the original 

 plan, are given separately, and in systematic order. 



That the catalogue may serve as a check-list in 

 collecting for the herbarium of the Institute, a * Wis * 

 been placed against Mich species as are now repres- 

 ented there : the absence of the star against any spe- 

 cies, denotes that it is among the desiderata, unless 

 otherwise specified. 



A- is implied in the title of this catalogue, the In- 

 stitute has in view the publication of a catalogue of 

 the county Flora, and lists have been here added of 

 the vascular cryptogams and the marine algae, which 

 have been found in the county; also what phanero- 

 are represented in the herbarium. Scantiness 

 of material has prevented the introduction of the 

 iceae, Musci, Hepaticae, Lichens, Fungi and 

 Fresh Water Algae; butin the final publication it is 

 intended to include all orders of plants. 



The catalogue makes no pretence to completeness ; 

 additions and corrections will be thankfully received, 

 and alternate pages have been left blank for conven- 

 ience in recording them. 



