1863.] 501 



Un Coup d^CEil sur la Florule des Environs de Han-sur-Lesse. 

 Par FRAN901S Crefin, Membre de la Societe lloyale de Bo- 

 tanique de Belgique. 



This district of the kingdom of Belgium, in the neighbourhood 

 of Rochefortj has been accurately investigated by M. Crepin, 

 whose botanical labours have already enriched the literature of 

 his native land, and also considerably increased our acquaintance 

 with Belgian plants. 



The small brochure of which the title is given as a heading to 

 this article, contains only a couple of sheets of octavo, thirty-two 

 pages, and yet it tells us succinctly what are the topographical, 

 geological, and botanical characteristics of this not extensive 

 tract. The surface, as in most calcareous countries, is very un- 

 even, having many scars or rocks elevated above the soil, from 

 two hundred to three hundred feet. The highest altitude may 

 be about eight hundred feet above the level of the Meuse. 



" About the end of March, or at the beginning of April," our 

 author writes, 'Hhe hills and sunny banks are yellow or blue 

 with the thousands of spikes of Carex humilis and C. montana, 

 and of Sesleria coerulea, species which constitute the turf; and 

 this is mixed here and there Avith the pretty cups oi Anemone 

 Pulsatilla, soon replaced by the long feathery pi'ocesses of their 

 fruit. At the same period appear Thlaspi montanum, with masses 

 or patches of flowerets which emulate the whiteness of April 

 snows. By degrees the little coronals of Hippocrepis comosa ap- 

 pear, like golden chaplets fitted for the tiny heads of some of 

 Queen JNIab's handsome retinue. Fragaria collina, which pro- 

 duces delicious fruit, the grand Geranium sanguineum, Veronica 

 pj'ostrata, Glohularia vulgaris, and Cerastium brachypetalum, 

 help to beautify the scene." 



About the end of May, and in the first half of June, M. Cre- 

 pin continues, the flora is diversified with Polygala comosa, a spe- 

 cies very distinct from P. vulgaris, also with Brunella (Prunella) 

 alba, quite as remote from B. vulgaris ; here is also Lactuca 

 perermis, Phalan^ium Liliago, Polygonatum vulgar e, Melica nu- 

 tans, and Rosa pimpinellifolia, the smallest and the most elegant 

 of our Roses. 



Prom the 15th to the 30th of June, the vegetable carpet is still 



