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4 
disposal by Dr. Geo. Vasey ; while the collections of the California 
Academy of Sciences, rich in Pacific Coast forms, were sent to us 
hy the curator. Miss Mary Curran. Mr. I. C. Martindale, whose 
collection of Umbellifei'S is probably the completest to be found 
among private collections, and Capt. John Donnell Smith and Llr. 
William M. Canhy, whose collections are especially rich in the 
more recently collected North American species, have put their 
entire collections in our hands. Prof. W. W. Bailey has sent us 
the collections of Brown University, among which the Olney and 
Bennett collections are very valuable in the older types. Prof. 
John Macoun has contributed the Canadian species, and his recent 
explorations in Western British America have brought to light 
much interesting material. The collections of S. B. Parish, L. F. 
Henderson and Thomas Howell have also been of great service. 
Mr. M. S. Bebb has furnished valuable material and .notes in the 
study of Thaspiutn and JEuIophus. Others who have kindly 
furnished every assistance in their power are Prof. T. C. Porter, 
Prof. William Trelease, Mr. Walter Deane, Prof. S. M. Tracy, 
Prof. Chas. R. Barnes, Dr. J. C. Arthur, Prof. Thomas McBride^ 
R e\'. Thomas Morong, Dr. Lester F. Ward, Mr. Frank 
Tweedy, etc., etc. It would be impracticable to give an 
account of all the material Uiat has passed . under our in- 
spection during some four years of unremitting study, but no pains 
have been spared in obtaining all the information to be had from 
the herbaria of this country. . 
Historical sketch. — The plants of this order were first set 
apart under the ordinal name Umbelliferce by A. L. de Jussieu in 
his Genera plantarum^ in 1789. The subsequent gen- 
eral presentations of tbe family that may be mentioned are by G. 
F. Hoffmann, Genera plantarum Umbelliferarum ('Ed. 2. 1816); 
A. P. de Candolle, Mem. Fam. Omb. (1829), as well as in the 
Prodromus (1880) ; S. L. Endlicher, Genera plantarum (1836-50) ; 
J. Lindley, Vegetable Kingdom the Apiacece^', 
G. W. Bentham and J. D. Hooker, Genera plantarum (1867). 
Dr. Oscar Drude also has this order in preparation for Engler and 
Prantl’s Die naturlichen Pflanzenjamilien. 
In reference to North American Umbelliferce., their last gen- 
eral presentation was by Torrey and Gray, Flora North America., 
Vol. I. (1888-40)'. Previous to that time the following works 
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