<U£^^ Ce^?^ r ^S^i tci? 3 *! '-r; ^S C,^s^> <^=*1c<£^> t*£^*> (<^^5<^S^1 teT^ , '.^r :> > <<iS*> t<^^> tcC^l tcS^l t,^^> C<iS^> y 
material for botanists to study elsewhere. In exchange we receive 
specimens from other herbaria which are incorporated in our 
collections and are of great value. Owing to lack of space and 
facilities it is necessary to limit our collections as far as possible 
to plants from Malaysia and adjacent territories. 
Rajflesia 
During an expedition in western Sarawak in September i9££, 
the Director collected specimens of Rajflesia, a genus which 
produces the world's largest flower. Rajflesia is a parasitic plant 
without roots, stems or leaves and which grows entirely within 
the tissues of the host plant, which is a liane. The only portion of 
the plant to appear outside the host is the flower, usually pro¬ 
duced on the roots of the host. The flowers are unique in struc¬ 
ture and have a strong foetid odour, while the buds are the size 
of cabbages. Works in many languages had to be consulted to 
determine the present specimen, which is Rajflesia tuan-mudae, 
first collected by Beccari near the the site of the present specimen 
and named by him in honour of the Rajah Muda of Sarawak, 
afterwards H. H. the Raja Sir Charles Brooke, 
Current Research in Systematic Botany 
Research in systematic botany, to which Mr. Ridley contri¬ 
buted so substantially, is continued by the present staff of the 
Gardens. Families of plants are studied critically by the staff and 
taxonomic monographs are published regularly in the Gardens ’ 
Bulletin. Mr. Sinclair, Keeper of the Herbarium, has recently 
published in critical study the family Annonaceae and is now 
engaged on the family Myristicaceae (Nutmeg family). Dr. 
Furtado, Assistant Botanist, is continuing his study of palms, 
while a paper on Calophyllum by Messrs. Henderson and Wyatt- 
Smith will be published shortly. This critical and highly special¬ 
ised work in systematic botany is of the greatest practical im¬ 
portance to the agriculturist, forester and all those whose work 
is connected with plants. 
The naming and description of plants is subject to the Inter¬ 
national Code of Botanical Nomenclature, which is revised from 
time to time by the International Congress of Botanists. All new 
plants must be described in Latin. Dr, Furtado, Assistant Bota¬ 
nist, is an authority on the Code and contributed to it. 
Mr. Ridley’s Publications 
During his long and productive life Mr. Ridley has published 
over £oo books and scientific papers covering some 10,000 
printed pages. His Flora ojMalaya (1922—£) is still the basis for 
botanical work in Malaya. His monumental tome The Dispersal 
of Plants throughout the World published when he was yg contains 
many original observations and is of great value to all those 
interested in Malayan natural history. Mr. Ridley has also written 
the standard work on Spices and the first works on Malayan 
timbers, vegetables, fruits, dyes, drug plants, etc. His first 
scientific paper was published at the age of 16. 
Agricultural and Gardens’ Bulletin 
Mr. Ridley published the first Agricultural Bulletin in 1891 in 
order that he could acquaint planters and others with the results 
of his researches. From 1901 the Agricultural Bulletin was pub¬ 
lished monthly and was edited by Mr. Ridley, who also wrote 
many articles for it. The successor of the Agricultural Bulletin is 
our present Gardens' Bulletin , which began in its present form in 
1912 and in which are published the results of our researches. 
The Gardens' Bulletin has an international standing as a scientific 
periodical and some 300 copies are sent out by us to scientific 
institutions throughout the world in exchange for their publica¬ 
tions. We receive frequent requests for the Bulletin, including 
enquiries from countries such as Russia, Poland and Czechoslo¬ 
vakia. By its publication and distribution our work becomes 
known to botanists throughout the world and we in turn learn 
much and keep up-to-date with current research by the publica¬ 
tions which we receive in exchange. 
Publications by Gardens’ Staff , Past and Present 
In addition to publications in the Gardens' Bulletin and other 
journals, the staff of the Gardens from time to time prepare 
