476 Sugar candy in the Flower of Rhododendron pdnticum L. 



Gymnadenia (O'rchis L., and of others) odoratissima. We 

 had set it down for a casual variety of G. conopsea; but, from 

 looking over Sir J. E. Smith's admirable observations, ap- 

 pended to his description of O 'rchis conopsea in the English 

 Flora, vol. iv. p. 24?., and comparing our specimen with the 

 description of O. odoratissima L. (Persoon's Synopsis, vol. ii. 

 p. 505.) and with the cut in Bauhin's Prod., 30. f. 2., referred 

 to in the above cited place in the English Flora, I have great 

 reason to think that what we found is this latter species. I 

 extract the following matter from my memoranda made on ex- 

 amining the recent specimen : — " Mem. : Mr. A. Irving and 

 self found a very curious variety (apparently) of Gymnadenia 

 conopsea. Lip very broad, in three entire unequal lobes ; 

 the middle lobe by much the broadest; 

 with the petals and upper calyx leaves 

 much converging; spur very minute and 

 short, not one fourth so long as in G. 

 conopsea." {Fig, 72. represents the flower 

 of G. conopsea; fig. 71. the flower of 

 the supposed G. odoratissima.] 



A solitary plant only was found. I cut off many of the 

 flowers from its spike, and preserved them, to show the spur, 

 &c. ; and I cultivated the plant itself: but, if it is alive now, 

 which I doubt, it is in a very weak state. 



Lavender Hill, Wandsworth, Surrey, April 8. 1836. 



Art. IX. A Notice of the Fact, and of Particulars on the Mode, 

 of Sugarcandy being produced in the Flowers of Rhododendron 

 pdnticum L.; and a Notice of the Effect on the Germination of 

 the Seeds of an Acacia Necker of boiling them variously. By 

 the Rev. J. S. Henslow, M.A., Professor of Botany in the 

 University of Cambridge. 



I send you a notice of some facts upon two interesting 

 physiological subjects, and some of your correspondents may, 

 perhaps, favour us with farther particulars connected with the 

 subjects to which they refer. 



On Crystals of Sugarcandy formed by the Flowers of Rho- 

 dodendron pdnticum L. — I was lately shown several crys- 

 tallised fragments of what appeared to be white sugarcandy, 

 which were found in the decaying flowers of a plant of jRho- 

 dodendron ponticum L. That I might observe the manner 

 in which they had been formed, the plant was left with me for 

 a few days ; but, unfortunately, the blossoms had all fallen, and 

 nothing remained of the flowers but the abortive ovaries, 



