Excerpt from A Preliminary Catalogue of the Flora of Vancouver and Queen Charlotte Islands

A Flora is a botanical account of the plants of a country or district, with the orders or families systematically arranged under the classes. The genera under the orders, and the species (when there are more than one) under the genus to which they belong.

Of late years there has been a great awakening in the study of the ¿owering plants of this Province, -many inquiries are made as to the names of the more popular plants and as to where their descriptions can be found. To meet these demands the Provincial Museum undertook to add greatly to the Herbarium, and received unbounded support from many persons who were very much interested in this branch of natural history. More and more people are beginning to realize the pleasure and profit that can be gained from the observation of the plants growing around us, observing their beauty, and acquiring a knowledge which greatly increases an appreciation of nature.

Botanical biology teaches us the study of 'plants cannot be overlooked. The very existence of the animal kingdom is solely dependent on vegetable life, the great problems of geographical distribution, the theory of organic evolution or the innermost secrets of vital phenomena, whether in health or disease, are simplified by the study of plants. Botany and zoology are dependent on each other, without one the other would cease to exist. It is a study which cannot be indefinitely post poned, as the old terrestrial order is fast passing away before our eyes, everywhere the primitive vegetation is disappearing as more and more of the earth's surface is brought under cultivation and our forests are denuded of their original growth. Much work has been done, and still greater is the work which has yet to be accomplished.

This list will, without doubt, give some idea of the many species which are to be found on Vancouver and Queen Charlotte Islands, giving known locations in which they have been collected. The scientific or Latin name is given first, followed by the English or popular name, those plants that have been introduced being printed in italic letters.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.