ABNORMAL INFLORESCENCE OF CMSALPINIA. 71 



inflorescence is scented, the odour being soft and very pleasant, or in 

 the language of Mr. Duthie, "deliciously scented." Hence the 

 name, A. fcetidus, given to this plant, is, you will admit, inappro- 

 priate. But, perhaps, the sense of smell like that of taste may 

 differ in different individuals. So far as I know, no agrostologist, not 

 even Mr. Hackel, has as yet described it. When towards the end of 

 L889, we were informed that Hackel, considering the specimen sent 

 to him by Mr. Duthie, belonged to a new Andvopogon, had named it as 

 above, it was suggested by me that A. Hackelii would be more 

 appropriate. To this in a letter, dated 13th November, 1890, Mr. 

 Duthie answered, "I think A. Hackelii, Lisb., would be a far more 

 appropriate name. I should think he would have no objection to 

 the alteration. I had better ask him." I would have still described 

 it in honour of Professor. Hackel, but for the following letter of 

 Mr. Duthie, dated 31st January last: — "Professor Hackel now 

 reduces his Andropogon fcetidus to a variety of Iliicjelii, Hackel. 

 He first gave the name A. fcetidus to specimens collected by me in 

 the Nimar district two years ago. He did not reply to my question 

 regarding the inappropriateness of the name fcetidus. He has 

 probably written out a description which will shortly be published." 

 I am not aware that Professor Hackel has as yet published his. 

 There is no doubt a close affinity exists between A. Hugelii, described 

 by Hackel from the foot of the Himalayas, and A. fcetidus, found 

 growing abundantly all over the Presidency, the North-Western Pro- 

 vinces and other parts of India, but the examination of the speci- 

 mens of the two Andropogons exhibited here, show there are at least 

 some apparent differences. The pcdicillate spikelet is destitute of the 

 fourth glume, whilst it is present in A. Hugelii. 



CURIOUS INSTANCE OF ABNORMAL INFLORESCENCE 

 OF CMSALPINIA (POINCIANA) PULCIIERRIMA. 



The accompanying plate contains an illustration of a curious 

 instance of abnormal inflorescence of Ccesalpinia (Poi)tciaiia) pulcher- 

 rima, which was exhibited, some months ago, at a meeting of our 

 Society, by Mr. E. S. Luard. In this case the peduncle and rachis 



