Linncean Society. 195 



figures a single species, Phceocordylis areolatus, collected in the Kha- 

 siya Hills. He compares its structure with that of Balanophora, no- 

 tices several curious peculiarities, and adverts to the structure of the 

 hairs in which the fruits are imbedded as presenting a remarkable 

 analogy with the paraphysiform appendages of Drepanophyllum and 

 certain Neckeroi, and also with the bodies which he suspects to be the 

 male organs of Ferns. 



Lastly, Mr. Griffith adds the description of a new genus which he 

 dedicates to the memory of Mr. Thomas Smith, referred to by Mr. 

 Brown in terms of high commendation in his remarks on Kingia, 

 This genus is characterized as follows under the anagrammatized 

 name of 



Thismia. 



Char. Gen. — Periantliium superum, campanulatum (caducum), 6-parti- 

 tum ; laciniis 3 exterioribus (brevibus) oblongis, 3 alternis interioribus 

 (longissimis) subulatis ; fauce annulo semiclausa. Stamina 6, fauci in- 

 serta, perianthii laciniis opposita, deflexa insuper parietem tubi inter- 

 num ; filamenta brevia, discreta ; antherae (maximse) secus margines 

 connatae, membrana bilamellosa terminatae, biloculares, loculis parvis 

 distantibus adnatis. Ovarium inferum, 1-Ioculare; placentae 3 parie- 

 tales, supra medium ovuligerae ; ovula indefinita, anatropa. Stylus 

 brevis. Stigmata 3 bifida. Fructus carnosus, truncato-turbinatus, apice 

 pericarpii circumscisso dehiscens, 1-locularis. Semina indefinita, pla- 

 centis 3 parietalibus demum liberis affixa. Embryo indivisus, homo- 

 geneus. 



V\di\\tii pusilla, aphylla, radicum parasitica, aspectu cereaceo. Perianthium 

 luteuin, coccineo pictum. 



Thismia Brunonis. 



Hab. ad pedes Bambusarum in bumo ligno semiputrido farcto prope 

 Palar Orse Tenasserim, ad grad. lat. bor. 12° 50', long, orient. 98° 20'.— 

 Flor. et fruct. lect. Mense Octobris, 1834. 



Some observations follow on the mode of venation of the perian- 

 thium, on the dehiscence of the fruit, and on the position of the plant 

 in the natural system, which the author regards as intermediate be- 

 tween TaccecB and Burmanniacece. He adds that he is disposed to 

 consider it as a Monocotyledonous form of the albuminiform homo- 

 geneous embryo, and as the analogue of Rafflesiacece and Cytineee of 

 Dicotyledons. 



Associated with Thismia grew a species of Salomonia and a species 

 of Burmannia, both having the ordinary appearance of plants para- 

 sitic on roots. The former is characterized as 



Salomonia aphylla, parasitica, floribus pentandris. 

 The paper was accompanied and illustrated by an extensive series 

 of coloured drawings. 



November 5. — E. Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



Joshua Clarke, Esq., presented specimens of Galium Vaillantii, 

 DeC, gathered by himself at Saffron Walden, in the county of Essex. 



James Backhouse, jun., Esq., and G. S. Gibson, Esq., presented 

 specimens of Spergula stricta, Swartz, from Widdy Bank, Teesdale, 



