i?. Scho7nburgk^ Dr. Phil. 
8i 
PART IV. — The Flora of British Guiana. 
Although British Guiana does not offer such changes and 
contrasts in the formation of its surface as Brazil and Peru 
do, and at the same time there is a greater equality in its 
climate, yet, as far as the abundance and variety of its flora 
is concerned, it can compare with the richest tracts of South 
America in relation to both of these — it can almost be said 
exceeds it. 
What my late brother, assisted by the previous labors of 
Aublet, G. F. W. Meyer, and Rudge, has done for the know- 
ledge of the flora of British Guiana, and what I endeavored to 
do, during my sojourn there, may be considered as only a small 
step towards such a thorough acquaintance with the inex- 
haustible treasures of the flora of South America as may be 
made available for the arrangement of a complete and com- 
prehensive work. 
To contribute to tMs end as much as possible with the 
already existing materials, and the results gathered during 
the course of our travels, I attempted to form at least a 
synopsis of the flora of British Guiana, in which work I was 
assisted by Dr. Klotzsch, JSTees von Esebeck Bartling, 
Griesebach, and C. H. Schultz Bip. This synopsis was pub- 
lished in my Travels in British Guiana,^ ^ but could not be 
reprinted in the ‘‘Botanical Reminiscences,^^ therefore I will 
give only an aspect of the flora of British Guiana. 
Before proceeding to describe the most noteworthy charac- 
teristic of the several districts or regions of vegetation, it 
may not be uninteresting to the botanist if I endeavor to 
give a picture in outline of the general flora of British 
Guiana with its most prominent variations, for such a descrip- 
tion will render the special changes and differences depending 
upon local circumstances more characteristic and intelligible. 
I am not aware that since our sojourn in Guiana other 
travellers have published their investigations regarding its 
botany. 
The whole vegetation of British Guiana shows, with re- 
ference to its habitus, at least on the greater part of its area, 
that a large number of families and species are more closely 
related than at the first glance they appeared to be. 
Luxuriant growth and a profusion of branches are common, 
F 
