Linncean Society. 217 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



LINN^AN SOCIETY. 



June 6, 1843.— -Edward Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



Read a " Description of Peltophyllum, a new genus of Plants allied 

 to Triuris of Miers, with remarks on their Affinities." By George 

 Gardner, Esq., F.L.S. &c. 



The plant described in the present communication was discovered 

 by Mr. Gardner in the province of Goyaz, in the interior of Brazil, 

 and the few specimens which he possesses are unfortunately all 

 female. The following are its characters : — 



Peltophyllum, Gardner. 

 Flores dioici. Masc. ignoti. Foem. Perigonium 6-partitum, coloratum, 



patens, persistans ; laciniis ovatis, longe acuminatis ; acumine piano. 



Ovaria plurima, in tori apice sessilia, adpressa, libera. Styli ad apicem 



incrassati, oblique truncati. Fructus ignotus. 

 T^evho, parvula Brasiliensis. Folia a scapo distantia, longe petiolata, pel- 



tata, valde reticulata. Radix tuberosa, fibrosa. Scapus subramosus, 



basi squamosus ; pedunculis basi bracfeatis, unifloris', floribus luteis. 

 Peltophyllum luteum, Gardn. Herb. Bras. n. 3570. 



Mr. Gardner compares the female flowers of his plant with those 

 of Triuris, to which it is evidently nearly related ; and discusses at 

 some length the subject of their proper position in the natural system, 

 which he believes to be along with Smilacea and the other orders of 

 the group to which Prof. Lindley gave first the name of Retosm and 

 subsequently that of Dictyogens. He proposes to form a distinct 

 order for their reception under the name of 



Triurace-e. 

 HerbcR parvulas, perennes, rhizomate repente ? Folia solitaria, a scapo 

 distantia, longe petiolata, nervosa, integerrima. FagincB ad basin pe- 

 tiolorum membranaceae. Scapus subramosus, basi squamosus. Flores 

 regulares, dioici ; pedicellis unifloris, bracteatis. Perigonium corollinuni, 

 3- vel 6-partitum, patens, persistens ; laciniis longis, acuminatis, aesti- 

 vatione basi valvatis ; acumine interdum tubuloso, ante anthesin gy- 

 rato incluso. Stamina 3 vel 6 ? yfntherce extrorsae, loculis disjunctis, 

 imo androphoro magno carnoso centrali insertae. Ovaria plurima, in 

 tori apice sessilia, adpressa, libera. Ovula in loculis solitaria ? Styli 

 sublaterales, subulati, vel ad apicem incrassati et oblique truncati. 

 Fructus ignotus. 

 A figure of Peltophyllum luteum, with details, from the pencil of 

 Mr. Miers, accompanied the paper. 



June 20.— E. Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



Read ** Notes on the Forest-trees of Australia." By George 

 Sutter, Esq., F.L.S. &c. 



Mr. Suttor states that the far greater number of these trees be- 

 long to the order Myrtacea, and chiefly to the genus Eucalyptus. The 

 species are very numerous, and many of them are still undescribed. 

 'J'hey are generically known to the colonists as Gum-trees, and their 

 distinctive names are chiefly derived from the colour of their barks ; 



