10 
55. The series “Singapore Field Numbers’’ for recording plant specimens 
has been falling into disuse for a number of years owing to collectors using 
their own series. While the number of field workers contributing to the her- 
barium was relatively small, their use of the S.F.N. series was easy to control, 
but now the number is greatly increased and extends well beyond the Gardens’ 
staff, its application is difficult. From the beginning of the year the use of the 
S.F.N. series was discontinued, but its principle was modified to the opening of 
a herbarium accession register in which all material entering the herbarium 
for retention is registered under its originator’s field number." 
XVI. EXCHANGE AND ACQUISITION 
56. The number of specimens received in exchange from other institu- 
tions was 2,130. The Herbarium Bogoriense was again the highest contributor; 
most of the specimens were collected by Dr. A. Kostermans. It is notable that 
the amount of material collected by him exceeds that obtained by any other 
present-day collector in South-east Asia. As he collects in quantity his dupli- 
cates are widely distributed to the very great benefit of collaborators of Flora 
Malesiana and other students of South-east Asian botany. A summary of 
institutions contributing to the Singapore herbarium is given in Appendix IV. 
57. Distribution of specimens from the Singapore Herbarium amounted 
to 3,786, details of which are given in Appendix IV. 
XVII. TAXONOMY 
58. Mr. Sinclair continued his work throughout the year on Malaysian 
Myristicaceae (Nutmeg Family) in collaboration with the Flora Malesiana 
Foundation, chiefly on the genus Knema. Even though he was officially on 
leave in Europe, 1st April to 13th October, he visited and worked at a number 
of European herbaria — Edinburgh, Kew, British Museum, Cambridge, Lei- 
den, Utrecht, Brussels and Paris — on a small Government grant. While tra- 
velling to Europe he visited Peradeniya in Ceylon, and on his return from 
Europe he spent a week at Calcutta. 
59. Collections from the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, U.S.A. 
were sent to Leiden for him to work on there as that institution will not send 
specimens on loan to Singapore. Likewise Peradeniya and the British Museum 
were unable to lend material. Kew, Paris and Utrecht place restrictions on 
their material, while at Paris there is a great deal of unmounted and undeter- 
mined material which workers must search over for themselves. It was thus 
essential for Mr. Sinclair to visit these institutions as otherwise he would not 
have been able to see types, historical collections and much of their general 
material. Without such essential basic study it is impossible to make any 
accurate and comprehensive revision. 
60. This work had to be done rapidly owing to limitation of time, but 
much useful knowledge was gained whereby several name changes, reductions 
and corrections will have to be effected. No satisfactory or complete research 
of this kind can be done in Singapore entirely or even at Kew or Leiden alone. 
Certainly Singapore holds the key collection of the local flora, but regional 
aspects of plant dispersal and evolution, oblivious of and far beyond political 
boundaries have to be understood in the preparation of a local flora. The 
Malaysian region presents a well-defined phytogeographical unit and for this 
reason the Department’s collaboration in the Flora Malesiana project is the 
most important undertaking as it serves to place the Malayan flora in its proper 
regional context. 
