Botany of San Domingo

Abstract

THE vegetation of this, the largest of the West India Islands next to Cuba, has long been almost totally unknown to botanists. The absence of all but the scantiest data about its flora has made any general conclusions as to the main facts of the geographical distribution of plants in the West Indies very uncertain. It has usually been supposed that any attempt to explore any part of the island botanically would present almost insuperable difficulties. The following extracts from a letter from San Domingo received at Kew from Baron Eggers, who has laboured so assiduously in the investigation of West Indian botany, will be read therefore with much interest.