P R E F A C E .
A monograph of the. genera Calamus and Daemonorops was prepared by mo
many years ago, as part of a general work on "Asiatic Palms" which it had
been my intention to publish in my "Malesia." The " Istituto di Stwdj
Snperiori" of Morence haying, however, withdrawn its subsidy towards the
continuation of the work intended to illustrate the Malayan botanical collection^'
gathered by me—collections which had become the property of that Institute—
my studies of the Asiatic Palms were interrupted, and only a partial use of my
notes could be made by Sir Joseph Hooker in the sixth volume of the
"Flora of British India."
The present monograph would probably never have seen the light had it
not been my good fortune, in 1899, to meet in Florence Sir George King, who
most courteously and generously offered to arrange for the publication of the
work in the "Annals of the lioyal Botanic Garden of Calcutta," of which
publication he had been the founder. This unexpected and welcome aid
enabled me, after ten years' interruption, to resume the study of the two
genera mentioned, and now, thanks to the most valuable help given me
by Lieut.-Col. D. Prain, the worthy successor to Sir George King in the
Superintendentship of the Calcutta Botanic Garden and in the Editorship of
these "Annals," this monograph of the genus Calamus is issued, with the hope
that monographs of Daemonorops and of the remaining Lepidocaryeae, if not of
all the Asiatic Pabns, may follow.
In the com-se of my study of Calamus and Daemonorops I have had the
advantage of dealing with very extensive material. No pains have been spared
in bringing together specimens of these plants from their native countries. The
greatest liberality has, moreover, been shown by the Directors of the leading
botanical establishments, who have accorded me fuU opportunities of making use
of the collections under their charge. As a result I have been able, except in
the case of five species described and figured only by Bumpb, but not met
with again by modern botanists, to provide a description of my own and to
take a photograph of every one of the some 200 known species of Calamus.
The list of those who have in various ways aided me in my work is a
long one, and I cannot too heartily and gratefully acknowledge the valuable
assistance I have received from so many friendly helpers; but I feel above
all deeply indebted to Sir George King and to Lieut.-Col. Prain^
since these gentlemen have provided me with an opportunity of publishing this
work, accompanied by natural-size phototype reproductions of my negatives. I
am also under much obligation to them for sets of the Calami, and other
Palms iVom the Calcutta Herbarium, placed freely at my disposal whenever
requn-ed. I have likewise to express my thanks to Captain A. T. Gage,
ANN. R o r . B o r . GARD. OXICUTA'A TOL. X I .