INTRODUCTION 



THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HERBARIUM AMBOINENSE 



The Herbarium Amboinense consists of twelve books, published 

 in six volumes. The purpose of each book is expressly stated, 

 thus: 



Liber primus. Qui continet arbores, quae f ructus esculentos f erunt, 



ac culturam humanam requirunt. 

 Liber secundus. Continens arbores aromaticus, quae aut fructum 



aromaticum, corticemve, aut odoratum aliquod praebent lignum. 

 Liber tertius. Continens arbores, quae Resinam, speciososque dant 



Flores, aut noxium aliquod lac fundunt. 

 Liber quartus. Arbores continens silvestres, quarum pars aliqua fab- 



rilis est. 



Liber quintus. De Arboribus agens silvestribus promisque. 

 Liber sextus. De fruticibus agens tam domesticis, quam silvestribus. 

 Liber septimus. De funibus agens silvestribus & Fruticibus reptan- 

 tibus. 



Liber octavus. De plantis agens domesticis, tam victui, quam Medi- 



cinae, & decori inservientibus. 

 Liber nonus. De Convolvulis, & Herbis reptantibus. 

 Liber decimus. De Herbis agens silvestribus promiscue. 

 Liber undecimus. Agens de reliquis herbis silvestribus. 

 Liber duodecimus. De arbusculis agens marinis, & plantis saxosis, 



seu de Lithodendris & Lithophytis. 



To the above should be added the "Auctuarium," cited in this 

 work as volume seven of the Herbarium Amboinense, which 

 contains additional notes on species described in the above 

 twelve books as well as figures and descriptions of plants not 

 included in them. 



The classification is primarily the ancient one of trees, shrubs, 

 and herbs, with subdivisions according to habitats and uses. 

 There is no system based on other than the most evident, gross 

 characters. While the purpose of each book is definitely in- 

 dicated, it is important to understand the object of the work 

 as a whole. Rumphius expressly states that it was based, not 

 on Amboina alone, but on all of the Dutch East Indies. How- 

 ever, as the work was done on plants or parts of plants either 

 growing in Amboina, sent to him from other regions, or brought 

 in from other countries for commercial purposes, he selected the 

 title Herbarium Amboinense. Numerous species now growing 



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