22 



RUMPHIUS'S HERBARIUM AMBOINENSE 



authors from 1753 to date might be elucidated. Rumphius's 

 species, like those of Blanco, are not represented by extant 

 botanical material, although it is manifest that Rumphius pre- 

 served, at least temporarily, specimens representing some of the 

 forms that he described.* Thus, in interpreting Rumphian 

 species, we must utilize the same general methods as those 

 devised in securing material and data to locate Blanco's species. 

 In the interpretation of many Rumphian species the investigator 

 has the great advantage of the published figures, but it should 

 be carefully noted that the figures do not always correspond 

 with the characters of the species indicated in the descriptions 

 (see p. 41). In interpreting Blancoan species there is the 

 distinct advantage of his use of technical terms and the rather 

 doubtful advantage of the binomial nomenclature; doubtful not 

 because of the system, but from Blanco's erroneous interpreta- 

 tions of so many genera. 



At various times, as it became necessary to interpret species 

 in critical genera by consultation of the Herbarium Amboinense, 

 the necessity of securing botanical material from Amboina be- 

 came apparent. The desirability of securing Amboina material 

 was discussed by Doctor Robinson and myself at various times 

 during his first tour of duty in the Philippines, 1908-1911. As 

 work on the Philippine flora progressed, the necessity for a 

 definite knowledge of the Rumphian species became more and 

 more evident, until finally the matter was taken up with the 

 Philippine authorities, approval of the Amboina project secured, 

 and cooperation with the authorities of the botanic garden at 

 Buitenzorg, Java, arranged. 



In preparation for his work in Amboina, Doctor Robinson 

 made an exhaustive examination of the Herbarium Amboinense, 

 and compiled on index cards all data that might be of assistance 

 in his actual field work. He arranged all native names cited 

 by Rumphius, for he realized that the clue to the identity of 

 a Rumphian species would often be found in the native name 

 or names cited. Regions and localities from which Rumphius 

 secured his material were also classified, so that before com- 

 mencing field work in Amboina, Doctor Robinson could deter- 

 mine to a great extent what species he might hope to find in 

 Amboina and what would have to be sought for in other islands. 



* Martelli, U. Le collezioni di Giorgio Everardo Rumpf acquistate dal 

 Granduca Cosimo III de'Medici, una volta esistenti nel Museu di Fisica e 

 Storia Naturale di Firenze, estratto da un catalogo manoscritto dal Prof. 

 Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti (1903) 1-213. 



