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5 
A Flora of North America ; arranged according to the Natural System, by 
John Torrey and Asa Gray. Vol. 1. part 1. New York, July 1838. 
The poor compilation by Pursh, and the meagre Flora 
Boreali-Americana of Michaux, are the only general works 
yet published upon the Flora of that vast part of the North 
American continent which lies north of Mexico; and neither 
of these works was written by an American. Most extensive 
materials for giving a good account of those varied regions 
have been accumulating for many years ; several excellent 
local Floras have been published in the United States, Sir 
Wm. Hooker's valuable work, the Flora Boreali-Americana, 
is a mine of information concerning the species inhabiting 
the British possessions, and the journeys of Douglas, Drum- 
mond, Nuttall, Coulter, and others, have produced a very 
considerable amount of information, of which little is yet 
published, concerning the Southern and once Spanish terri- 
tories. It is the purpose of Drs. Torrey and Gray to consoli- 
date these materials into three closely-printed octavo volumes, 
of about 550 pages each; and, to judge from the previous 
writings of these eminent Botanists, and from the present 
work, the task could not have been undertaken by more 
able men. I have as yet seen the first part only, which ex- 
tends from Ranunculacee to Caryophyllacee in De Can- 
dolle’s arrangement. It is written wholly in English, and 
is full of valuable original observations upon species, genera, 
and natural orders. The following is an interesting fact :— 
Nelumbium luteum. ‘‘ The tubers resemble those of the sweet 
potatoe, when boiled are as farinaceous and agreeable as the 
potatoe, and are employed for food by the Osage and other 
Western Indians.”” It is to be hoped that future numbers 
will contain more such remarks upon the useful qualities of 
plants, a subject which systematical Botanists have too often 
the bad habit of neglecting. People in this country will 
be surprised to find that our American friends suppose 
Berberis repens to be a variety of B. aquifolium ! 
House of Representatives, 25th Congress, 2nd Session, Rep. no. 564. Dr. 
Henry Perrine. Tropical Plants. 
This is an 8vo. pamphlet of 99 pages, containing various 
letters, reports, &c. connected with a memorial to the House 
of Representatives of the United States by Dr. Henry Perrine, 
consul of the United States at Campeachy, praying that the 
House will grant him a tract of land in Florida, ‘‘ for the 
