Noteworthy anatomical and physiological researches. 
The littoral flora of Belgium. 
The flora of the Belgian littoral presents so many points of 
interest in common with those which may be found along 
our own seaboards and the great lakes, that it has seemed fit- 
ting to give a somewhat extended abstract of this paper. As 
the original title suggests, it is not a mere list of plants grow- 
ing upon the coast of Belgium. On the other hand the sub- 
ject is treated entirely from a biological standpoint and is 
well deserving of the attention of American botanists, many 
of whom have unsurpassed advantages for undertaking sim- 
ilar lines of study. \ 
The most important topics, are indicated by corresponding 
subheads in this résumé. ‘ 
1. Physical conditions. The shore of Belgium consists of 
dikes. Between these dunes are more or less deep and ex- 
tended valleys. 
The calcium carbonate and other salts which are dashed 
over these hillocks by the waves filter quickly through the 
valleys separating them, on the contrary, are kept gers oi 
less moist owing to an impermeable stratum of clay are 
underlies them. The largest valleys are called ‘‘pannes” an 
are frequently cultivated. Their flora resembles that of the 
marshes of the interior, and is devoid of any peculiarly lit- 
toral character. 
Where the Yser empties into the sea the tide backs up 
Carrying with it the particles of earth held in suspension by 
the river water. These are deposited along the estuary 
forming sheets of clay called ‘‘schorres.” 
Owing to the action of the waves a constant subsidence of 
the hills takes place, although this is sometimes counter-bal- 
anced by new dunes formed by the sand deposited by the 
ocean Currents. 
"La biologie de la te 
la Soc. roy. de Botanigue de Belgique in Penh "180, ee 
[454] 
