selves, which I have been obliged to shorten as much as consistent with their practical use, I have endeavoured to select the characters most important to observe for their identification. Many of these descriptions are, I am aware, as yet very imperfect, and some may be in some respect erroneous, especially with regard to stature, colour, and dimensions, owing generally to the insufficiency of the specimens and the want of memoranda made by those who have seen the plants in a living state. Travellers therefore making use of this work in the country will have to guard against attaching much importance to discrepancies in characters which dried specimens cannot show, when the descriptions apply well to the plant they are examining as to form and structure.
"With regard to the synonymy, I have thought it generally unnecessary to repeat that which is already detailed in the general works referred to in the case of each well-known species. I have however entered into more detail as to the names under which Hongkong species may be entered in works specially relating to South Chinese botany. I have quoted such figures as it may be useful to consult and are contained in works to which the Asiatic, and especially the Indian botanist, is likely to have access ; and I have added, for the general botanist, numerous new synonyms which my researches for the identification of Hongkong species have enabled me to verify.
The contractions used in the references to works, are those which general custom has sanctioned, following in most cases the rule laid down by De Candolle for abridging authors' names ; that is, to give the first syllable with the first consonant of the second syllable. Initials only are used in the case of DC. for De Candolle, and H. B. and K. for Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth. Dimensions are given in English feet, inches, and lines of twelve to an inch.
