99 
Dr. H. Zahlbriickner, Natur-historische Hof-Museum, Vienna, 
Austria, was elected a corresponding member. 
The scientific program of the evening was as follows : 
By Dr. H. H. Rusby, “Remarks on some Solanaceae.” 
By Mr. A. A. Tyler, “The Nature and Origin of Stipules.” 
By Dr. J. K. Small, “Aster gracilis Nuttall.” 
By Mr. Geo. V. Nash, “New and Noteworthy American 
Grasses.” 
Dr. Rusby exhibited a number of Solanaceous plants and 
remarked upon their relationships. It was pointed out that the 
general appearance and chemical and physiological characteristics 
of these plants frequently fail to indicate their structural affinities. 
Cestrum and Sessea, Atropa and Datura were cited as illustrations 
of the separation of otherwise naturally related groups through 
their possession respectively of baccate and capsular fruits. Mico- 
tiana was referred to as connecting those tribes having a radial 
symmetry, with the tribe Salpiglossidae, having a bilateral sym- 
metry and thus connecting the family with the Labiales. The 
Androcera and Andropeda sections of the genus So/anum were 
instances of the appearance of this bilateral symmetry in a widely 
Separated part of the family where radial symmetry is otherwise 
the rule. 
Dr. Britton discussed the subject and remarked upon this in- 
stance of development of two divisions of a group along different 
lines, in this case through baccate and capsular fruits. He cited 
Similar parallelisms in other families tending to produce different 
resulting characters, as in Capparidaceae; and remarked that an 
indication of the lines along which these genera have been derived 
may be indicated by these characters. 
The second paper by Mr. A. A. Tyler on “The Nature and 
Origin of Stipules,” presented conclusions derived from studies 
extending through several years. The subject was treated at 
length in the light of geological, morphological, anatomical and 
developmental evidence. Discussing Mr. Tyler’s paper, which 
will shortly be published in full, Dr, Britton remarked that the 
Outcome of this very important paper is most interesting; it em- 
Phasizes the significance of basal scales and those of buds and 
Tootstocks; and it is the more convincing from the nicety with 
