MULFORD EXPLORATION OF THE AMAZON VALLEY 



207 



The study of the ^MuU'ord Collection of plants lias occupied 

 all the spare time of the writer since his return in February, 

 1922. Progress has been delayed for the reason that much crit- 

 ical study has been devoted to the previous collections of related 

 plants of the same region, made by Miguel Bang, R. S. Williams, 

 Otto Buchtien, myself, and others. My intention has been to 

 publish a comprehensive account of all these collections, giving 

 their geographic range, ecologic conditions, and economic rela- 

 tions, with special attention to the transition flora between the 

 forested regions and the pampas, a study of the greatest interest. 

 This undertaking is so extensive, and my time is so limited, that 

 it now appears desirable to effect publication of the new forms 

 already determined and later to continue with the more compre- 

 hensive w^ork. 



It is not to be understood that the present publication Avill 

 exhaust the list of either new" genera or species of the Mulford 

 collection. The 2,400 collection nmubers probably represent 

 about 1,500 species. Of these, more than a tenth have been laid 

 aside until the conditions are more favorable for their exact de- 

 termination. Doubtless a large part of them will be found with- 

 out published names or descriptions, and several new genera 

 will probably be found among them. In the meantime, it seems 

 highly desirable that the many botanists now working on tropical 

 American plants should jjossess what information I can supply 

 regarding those already studied. 



The following facts should be understood as applying to all 

 the species herein described. 



Unless otherwise stated, (1) all Avere collected in Bolivia, 

 and all by the Mulford Exploration, and they should be so cited ; 

 (2) all names are of my own authorship; (3) all type-specimens 

 are to be found in the herbarium of The New York Botanical 

 Garden. 



Owing to a degree of physical incapacity, I was unable to 

 exert myself on this as on previous journeys, so that the number 

 of duplicates available for distribution was relativelj^ small. Dr. 

 Orland J^. White, of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Mr, 

 Martin Cardenas, a botanical student encouraged and aided by 

 the Bolivian National Department of Education, were exceed- 



