iy.
from the most celebrated Emporia of science in Europe, it would be great presumption in me even
to hope that I could avoid them, while working alone with a limited herbarium, and an indifferently
stocked library. I have, however, made it my endeavour to compensate for these disadvantages
by care, in turning to the best account the sources of information within my reach, and I hopé that
blemishes of the kind referred to, may not in this work be found greatly to exceed those of other
similar publications.
Love of novelty and the ambition of acquiring celebrity by the publication of numerous new
genera and species have never influenced me in the selection of my subjects ; though doubtless, when
such crossed my path, I have gladly given them a place, not so much for the honor they conferred
on the discoverer, as for the sake of enriching the flora of which they formed a part. Long before
I ever dream’t of becoming an author, I often felt the want >of the aid towards the determination
of an unknown plant which a figure supplies, and for which verbal description, however carefully
drawn up, can never altogether compensate^ My main object in commencing this work was to
supply that desideratum, by the publication of figures of the plants described in my Prodromus
of the Peninsular Flora. And while acting up to that intention the most common plants were as
well, or even better, suited to fulfil my object as the most rare and beautiful, and, perhaps, it would
now have been more useful to the Indian Botanist had I throughout adhered more strictly to my
original plan.
Be that as it may, as the work advanced, and more especially after my official duties became
such as to compel me from want of leisure to discontinue the systematic exposition of the natural
orders in my Illustrations, it occurred to me that the leones would be improved by imparting to them
something more of a systematic character; that is, to the extent of illustrating in a continuous series
of plates, whole orders; a featurè in which the latter volumes differ from all similar works. By
following this course, a series of more or less perfect monographs, at least of the genera, of many
large orders have been produced.
Through the adoption of this plan, I have, I think, been enabled to accomplish, more perfectly
than I otherwise could have done, my wish to produce a work better adapted to the wants of Indian
Botanists, for whom it is principally intended, than had the more usual plan been adopted. And
being well acquainted with the disadvantages under which they labour, I have, from time to time,
as opportunity .offered, endeavoured to lessen these by introducing explanations of elementary principles
which would have been unnecessary, or indeed quite out of placé, if-addressed to highly
accomplished European students. Fearing that the latter may sometimes be of opinion that my
remarks on these occasions, however incidentally introduced, might as well have been withheld as
being unnecessary and common place, I think it desirable to offer this explanation in the belief that
most of those for whom the work is more especially intended, will coincide with me as to their propriety,
and in the hope that others, who have no ground for complaint on the score of extra cost,
will not consider their introduction objectionable.
In the early volumes I looked more to species than genera, which indeed are often the more
difficult of the two to determine, but subsequently I thought it advisable to increase the number of
genera in proportion to the species, as being better adapted, when grouped in orders, to convey
correct and enlarged ideas of the principles of the natural system of arrangement.
This consideration, combined with the interruption of the Illustrations;, led to this, if I may so
call it, monographic plan, to carry out which I generally took up whole orders, and studied them until
I had familiarized myself with the distinguishing features and discriminating characters of their
genera. Having done so, I then selected for representation those I considered the most interesting
or best adapted to convey a knowledge of the peculiarities of the family to which they belonged, as
well as of the sections, under which they had been grouped by Botanists who had particularly
studied and sub-divided the order., Proceeding on this plan I have been led to the construction of
more new genera than I might perhaps have deemed prudent, had I not thus in the first instance
made myself well acquainted with the labours of my predecessors, and I have certainly been prevented
falling into many errors, by being thereby enabled to refer transition forms to already defined
genera which I at first thought entitled to form the types of new ones. Having been thus careful,
I trust those genera I have ventured to form, will generally be found to rest on a firm basis.
On the subject of nomenclature I have expressed my views so fully under Gloriosa, that little
now remains for me to add, and even that little, would have been,withheld but for a notice I accidentally
stumbled upon, while turning over the pages of Dr. Walpers’ Annals where, in vol. 2, page
759 I find the following note, “ Mephitidia braeteata, Wight in McClelland’s Calcutta Journal of
Natural History, vi. 501 (cum omnibus sequentibus speciebus- sub Lasiantho!!)” To this change
of name I offer no objection, nor would I have noticed it except for the derisive addition of a
double point of admiration. But as it now stands I do most decidedly object, not being informed
on what grounds Dr. Walpers assumes the right or deems himself justified, in taking such
liberties with my opinions. My reasons for preferring Jack’s prior name are fully and fairly stated
in the article quoted: they may be right or they may be wrong, but be that as it may, they are the
result of careful consideration, and, moreover, further consideration still inclines me to adhere to
them. What may be my qualifications for arriving at a correct judgment on any such disputed
point I know not, but I hope they will not be found inferior to those of the learned compiler of that
very useful, I had almost said indispensable work, for such in truth it is to the Colonial Botanist.
Had he merely differed in opinion, simply retaining DeCandolle’s later for Jack’s earlier name, I
should not have noticed the change. I t is not to that I object; he has a right to hold his opinions, as
much as I have, but his sneering addition I consider most improper.
Haying said so much on the general execution of this work, not attempting to conceal its many
defects, I may now be permitted briefly to advert to another subject: the support, namely, it has
received, as indicated by the pecuniary returns. This has not on the whole been very encouraging.
On this matter I believe I am correct in stating that, exclusive of the liberal Government subscription
for fifty copies, the sales have never, from the outset, quite covered the cost of the paper,
on which the work is printed, and that the Government subscription has not quite covered the cost
of printing and lithography. Such being the case it must have been, to me, a losing concern from
the commencement, and as I have had to bear the whole charge, must, but for the Government subscription,
have ceased with the completion of the first volume. Such being the case it is to be
hoped the votaries of botanical science who have occasion to consult the work will not fail to
acknowledge their obligations to those munificent patrons of Natural Science, the Honorable
East In d ia Company, for whatever advantage they may derive from it, as without their aid I should
never have had occasion to write this preface to the 6th volume. For my own part, the satisfaction
enjoyed, while contemplating its progress and witnessing the benefits it was in course of
conferring, by at the same time diffusing a taste for Botanical Science and fixing the fluctuating
nomenclature of many species of Indian plants, has always been deemed sufficient compensation
for both the labour and cost.
The Indian Flora can now, I believe, boast of being more fully illustrated than that of any
other country under British sway, Great Britain alone excepted. We have now Roxburgh’s Coromandel
Plants, Wallich’s Plant® Asiatic® Rariores, and Tentamen’s Flora Nepalensis; Royle’s Illustrations,
my own Illustrations, and this work, furnishing together representations of upwards of
3000 species, exclusive of those published in detached periodicals and Hooker’s leones, which last