I860.] REVIEWS. 275 



The Belgian Willows here enumerated are only twelve^ and the 

 only indigenous poplar is P. tremula. 



Among the monocotyledonous plants, the Tulip and the Fri- 

 tillary are both denoted with the mark of alienism ; the Ornitho- 

 gala, on the contrary, pass muster without any stigma. Most 

 British botanists deem Ornithogalum mnbellatum an introduced 

 plant, and many regard both the Tulip and Fritiliary as genuine 

 natives. 



This manual of the ' Flora of Belgium' will occupy an exalted 

 station among the botanical works of Europe. It is truly a 

 manual, not in the German sense of this term, wiiich sometimes 

 means two large 8vo volumes, containing nearly three thousand 

 pages. This work of M. Crepin's is a manual in the etymolo- 

 gical, economical, and practical sense of the word. If bound up 

 tightly, without the introduction, the botanist could carry it in 

 his waistcoat-pocket. Its plan and arrangement are most judi- 

 cious, and the execution is not inferior to the design. It will 

 surely meet with a very warm reception from its author's country- 

 men. We hope he will receive some solid proofs that his labours 

 are appreciated — something more valuable than the commenda- 

 tion of good intentions well carried out. 



In some respects it is preferable to the excellent work of Messrs. 

 Cosson and Germain, which has evidently served as a model for 

 the ' Flore de Belgique.' It is very much less bulky, conse- 

 quently it is both cheaper and portable ; and the economical and 

 medicinal properties of the plants being simply and concisely 

 stated, will render it invaluable to doctresses and village practi- 

 tioners of the healing arts. 



The number of native and spontaneous plants in Belgium is, 

 in round numbers, about 1,300, inclusive of aliens or imperfectly 

 naturalized species. The number of British species, according 

 to the London Catalogue, which is the mean, as mathematicians 

 say, between Mr. Babington's and Mr. Beutham's estimates of 

 British plants, is 1,500 ; consequently, there are 200 more species 

 in England than in Belgium. This estimate is not, however, 

 exactly correct ; for although the Floras of the two countries have 

 the greatest possible resemblance, some orders and genera being 

 represented in both countries by the same plants, there are about 

 120 plants growing naturally in Belgium which have not as yet 

 been detected in England. The number of Belgian species being, 



