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viii Edwards Bacon most of the Melanthaccac, as well as a number in other families contributed by the author.

The scientific names of genera and species adopted are in accordance with the code of nomenclature recommended by the Nomenclature Committee of the Botanical Society of America. The fundamental principle of the code is that a specific name is based upon a type specimen and a generic name upon a type species. The code also recognizes the necessity of separating nomenclatorial ques- tions from those that have to do with the interpretation of scientific data, for so long as the eligibility of a name depends upon the status of some other genus or species, stability of nomenclature is impossible. These two fundamentals as well as priority are recognized in all modern codes dealing with the nomenclature of animals and plants. As an aid to the pronunciation of the scientific names the accented syllable is marked. When the vowel of the accented syllable is short the acute (') accent is used, when it is long or broad the grave C),.

In this initial attempt to apply an English name to every plant species in the Pacific States it is realized that some well established local names may have been omitted. Selecting the most suitable common name has not been an easy task, but when a name has appeared in the local manuals or popular floras it has been retained whenever possible. Special attention has also been given Indian and Spanish-Calif ornian names.

To the following contributors to this volume the author gratefully acknowl- edges his indebtedness. Much of the merit of the work is due to their hearty cooperation : Mr. William R. Maxon for the text of the Ptcridophyta, except the family Isoetaccac : Dr. Norma PfeifTer for the text of the Isoetaccac ; Professor A. S. Hitchcock for the text of the Ponccac ; Dr. N. L. Britton for the text of the Cyperaceac, except Carer ; Mr. K. K. Mackenzie for the text of Carcx ; Dr. C. R. Ball for the text of Salix, and Mr. F. V. Coville for assistance in preparing the text of the Juncaceae. Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Eerris have read the proof-sheets and assisted in the preparation of the index. Dr. J. H. Barnhart has given valuable assistance in bibliographical questions. Miss Alice Eastwood, Dr. W. L. Jepson, Mr. S. B. Parish, Mr. Carl Purdy, Dr. P. A. Rydberg, Professor J. C. Nelson, and Mr. M. W. Gorman have given valuable suggestions and have cordially assisted the author in many ways. Eor the loan of herbarium material or privilege of study the author is deeply indebted to the custodians of the various herbaria not only of the Pacific States but also of the leading botanical institutions of the eastern United States and Europe. Finally, to Dr. N. L. Britton, Director of the New York Botanical Garden; to the Board of Trustees of Stanford University, and to President Ray Lyman Wilbur, who have jointly made an illustrated flora of the Pacific States financially possible the author and all interested in native plants must ever be deeply grateful. LeRoy Abrams Stanford University May 15, 1923