Botanical Society of London. 233 



to some valuable skins of Mammalia, brought from Africa by Capt. 

 Alexander, recently purchased for the Society's Museum. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



July 6. — J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



A paper was read by the Secretary communicated by Robert 

 H. Schomburgk, on the Bertholletia excelsa, accompanied with draw- 

 ings of the plant in different stages of its growth. Mr. Gray noticed 

 a peculiarity in the seed vessel, which led to some discussion, after 

 which the Meeting adjourned. 



August 3rd.— -J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



Specimens of Polypogon monspeliensis , Poa distans, and P. pro- 

 cumbens, Set aria viridis, &c. were exhibited by Dr. Bossey, collected 

 near Woolwich. — Mr. Anderson also exhibited numerous living spe- 

 cimens of Utricularia vulgaris and Myriophyllum verticillatum, ob- 

 tained from the old locality in the ditch around Kew Gardens, which 

 were distributed. The Secretary announced a Donation of British 

 Plants from Dr. T. B. Salter, of Poole, Dorsetshire. 



A paper was then read by the Curator Daniel Cooper, A.L.S., being 

 some notes on a large variety of Ranunculus Flammula, which he had 

 found near Reigate, and which approached near to R. Lingua as re- 

 gards its habit ; the size of the flower however being a sufficient 

 character to consider it as the former species, although the whole 

 character of the herbage resembled much the latter species ; the 

 stem varying from 10 to 19 inches in height, and the leaves of con- 

 siderable size. Mr. C. also observed that the variety of R. Flam- 

 mula, /3. reptans, Lightfoot, was exceedingly plentiful on Hampstead 

 and other heaths near London. Mr. Cooper then read the details 

 of the first excursion made by the Members and President of the 

 Society this summer to Woking Common, Surrey, with observations 

 on varieties of the plants then found . He observed that this spot was 

 selected on account of the easy access by the London and Southampton 

 railway. After describing the details of the excursion, it was observed 

 that Lycopodium Selago had not been before found so near the metro- 

 polis. A variety of Calluna vulgaris was also noticed by Mr. Cooper, 

 which appeared to be the Calluna vulgaris hirsuta, of Gerard, 1830, 

 and which he considered deserving a place in the recent Floras of 

 Britain, the degree of hairiness forming a sufficient character to war- 

 rant its insertion. It is noticed by all the older botanists. A white 

 variety of Ajuga reptans was also noticed, together with a very beau- 

 tiful fawn-coloured variety of Orchis Morio, one specimen of which 



