Nouvelle Flore de la Belgique, du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des Régions voisines – Septième édition (2024): Ptéridophytes et Spermatophytes

New Flora of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Northern France and Neighbouring Regions – Seventh Edition (2024): Pteridophytes and Spermatophytes

Meise Botanic Garden has been publishing the official flora of Belgium and the neighboring areas for 50 years. Each new edition pays great care to the changes that have occurred in the distribution of species, the nomenclature and classification, but also to newcomers that have recently established themselves. This Flora is a reference work and the most accurate and complete for this region. The new edition also features a completely new look, with a slightly larger format, hundreds of new illustrations and easy-to-use identification keys that enable naming species.

The Flora van België, het Groothertogdom Luxemburg, Noord-Frankrijk en de Aangrenzende Gebieden, the official name of ‘the Flora’, was first published in French in 1973. It soon became the standard work on the vegetation of Belgium and the surrounding regions. Over the years, around 50,000 specimens have enabled thousands of students, botanists, agronomists and foresters, both professionals and amateurs, to identify and study the plant diversity of Belgium and the surrounding area.

Compared to the last French edition, which dates from 2012, about hundred new species have been added to the identification keys. These are often, but not exclusively, recently established species. It is a reflection of how the flora is changing, partly as a result of climate change. In addition, hundreds of revisions have been made, mainly reflecting recent insights into taxonomy at the species, genus, family and order levels. Global DNA research has accelerated research into the evolution of plant species in recent decades. This new edition is in accordance with that recent knowledge. Taxonomically difficult groups like Salix (willow), Rosa (rose), Rubus (blackberry) and Taraxacum (dandelion) were completely reworked by specialists. The distribution of species was completely revised based on the newest data.

The flora now covers 2,781 taxa and is the most complete and scientifically sound flora work available for the region. It will prove useful not only to those interested in the region per se but for comparative studies with the flora of other nearby countries including the UK.

French language