Short history of the Phytography of Malaysian vascular plants

For various reasons the space occupied by pre-Linnean Malaysian phytography in this concise history seems too large and out of proportion in comparison to the survey of post-Linnean work. Modern plant description, though based on, and derived from, ancient beginnings and traditions, maintains but slender contacts with plant sciences earlier than the 18th century and it might claim to be allotted by far the larger space on account of its superior results, its greatly increased efficiency, its Consciousness of limitations and capabilities, its output, and its clearness of purpose. There exists, however, during the last decade, an increasing interest in the nearly forgotten botany of centuries long past, not only because of a certain taste for the quaint and attractive flavour of scientific efforts from minds so remote from our own, but also on account of a growing insight into the hidden springs of modern thought and method, which flow deeply, emerge unexpectedly, and appear to rise from distant roots. There is also, in connexion with this, the absorbing spectacle of discovery and of growth i.e. the development of a field of human culture that has bound devoted and excellent personalities in its service from the first glimmerings of our civilization.