OBSERVATIONS, &c.
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The Herbarium formed by the late Professor Smith and
his assistant, Mr. David Lockhart, on the banks of the Congo, was, on its arrival in England, placed at the disposal of Sir Joseph Banks; under whose inspection it has been arranged; the more remarkable species have been determined; and the whole collection has been so far examined as the very limited time which could be devoted to this object allowed.
In the following pages will be found the more general results only of this examination; descriptions of the new genera and species being reserved for a future publication.
In communicating these results I shall follow nearly the same plan as that adopted in the Botanical Appendix to Captain Flinders's Voyage to Terra Australis:
1st. Stating what relates to the three Primary Divisions of Plants.
2dly. Proceeding to notice whatever appears most remarkable in the several Natural Orders of which the collection consists; and
3dly. Concluding with a general comparison of the vegetation on the line of the river Congo, with that of other equinoctial countries.
1. The number of species in the herbarium somewhat exceeds 600; the specimens of several of which are, indeed, imperfect; but they are all referable with certainty to the primary divisions, and, with very few exceptions, to the natural orders to which they belong.
