1861.] BOTANY OF THE MEUSE. 355 



search. There was the Artemisia, in immense quantities, cover- 

 ing the entire surface of the limestone rock, and peeping out of 

 every chink, for the space of several hundred yards, to the exclu- 

 sion of all other vegetation, excepting a little parched-up grass. 

 It was just beginning to flower, but we were able to select a suf- 

 ficient number of specimens for examination at home. Having 

 consigned these safely to the vasculum, we strolled on up the 

 valley to a hillside, whose scanty herbage was enlivened by the 

 bright-purple blossoms of Gentiana germanica. Is this species 

 identical with, or distinct from, our English G. Amarella ? I 

 collected the latter some years ago on the downs near Dover ; 

 but, except for its smaller size and paler colour, cannot perceive 

 any essential distinction between them. Not far from the Gen- 

 tian, among a heap of loose stones, its favourite habitat appa- 

 rently, was a goodly patch of Polypodium calcareum, the fronds 

 varying from little more than an inch to five or six inches in 

 length and breadth. On consulting our watches we now found 

 that we had barely time to reach home by the dinner hour, and 

 therefore turned to retrace our steps, determined not to loiter, 

 nor to look right or left. We kept our resolution till we came 

 to some little ponds, pools I should rather call them, verdant 

 with Duckweed, and promising a fine harvest of the vegetable 

 " marvels of pond life.'' This was a temptation too strong to 

 be resisted. My companion, nothing daunted by the uninviting 

 appearance of the decaying mass, tucked up his sleeve, dipped in 

 his hand, and drew forth, first Chara foetida in fructification ; 

 next Potamogeton densus, and P. crisp^is, in seed ; and lastly a 

 hard, bony substance, having neither root nor branches, only an 

 axis, surrounded by three or four toothed, broad leaves. These 

 treasures were all stowed into tlie vasculum for further exami- 

 nation, and then we hurried back to dinner. 



My first work after this meal, was to refer to my books in 

 order to identify the Artemisia. A first glance sufficed to con- 

 vince me that it differed entirely from A. campestris. Further 

 study seemed to prove it A. camphor at a, but this species did not 

 figure in any of the Belgian Floras, so to make assurance doubly 

 sure, I forwarded some specimens to my correspondent, M. 

 Crepin (author of the 'Manuel de la Flore de Belgique '), and 

 in a few days had the satisfaction of receiving from that gentle- 

 man a full confirmation of my surmise, that we had been so for- 



