A Flora of North Aynerica ; arrantjed according to the Natural System, by 

 John Torrcy and Asa Gray. Vol. 1. part I. New York, July 1838. 



The poor compilation by Pursli, 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 man}^ 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 Ranuncuiaceee to Caryophyllaceas in De Can- 

 doUe'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: — 

 Nelumhium luteiim. " 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 



