Editorial

This volume 11 (6) is the 50th issue of the Flora Malesiana Bulletin, and some feelings of pride and satisfaction may be allowed. The first issue of July 1947 had 150 copies, while now we have a circulation of about 600. The ongoing efforts of the various editors [Van Steenis (1947-1973), Jacobs (1962-1968; 1974-1982), Kalkman (1983)], the present team (Rifai, Roos, Veldkamp), and the many regular and irregular contributors have, I think, produced a goldmine of information. The annotated bibliography is the most important and durable part, while the 4-yearly indices provide a means of rapidly finding out what has been published about the plants, botanists, institutions, and expeditions of the area during the past 50 years. Especially the elaborate indices prepared by Ms. M.J. van Steenis-Kruseman need mentioning. There is no area in the world that has been covered so extensively for such a long time, and botanists working in other places look with envy at this treasure trove that has been built up over the years. It may be noted that between 1963 and 1991 the tropical parts of Southeast Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Indochina), the West Pacific, and Australia were included as well. After that it was felt that this area was too large for a thorough coverage. Thanks need to be expressed to the various organizations that over the years have made publication and free distribution possible: the Foundation Flora Malesiana, the Netherlands Organization for Pure Scientific Research ‘Z.W.O.’, the Leiden Rijksherbarium/Hortus Botanicus, and, recently, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. To keep up the quality of its contents for present and future users it is of course of the utmost importance that you, the reader, continue to supply us with news items and literature for inclusion in these pages.