Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 308 



a number of chordae tendineee to the posterior wall, where it makes its 

 exit;'* a contrivance which permits the blood to pass between the 

 rectum and the little valves, but prevents its reflux. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



July 9, 1857. — Professor Fleming, President, in the Chair. 



Professor Balfour exhibited specimens of Bryum pallescensj col- 

 lected by Mr. W. Wilson near Warrington. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. "Notice of Cryptogamic Plants found near New Abbey," by 

 the Rev. Hugh Macmillan. 



During May 1857, at New Abbey, in Kirkcudbrightshire, I was 

 particularly struck with the immense profusion of Parmelia Borreri 

 and P. tiliacea. They occurred on almost every tree — pines, oaks, 

 and ashes indiscriminately, sometimes even to the complete exclusion 

 of the common species, such as P. saxatilis and pulverulenta, which 

 usually monopolize their bark. I found them, also, occasionally 

 spreading in large patches over rough boulders of grey granite. I 

 gathered here and there a few specimens of both species, covered 

 with fine apothecia. They occur in a little wood, with a stream 

 running through it, at the base of Criffel, a lofty mountain rising up 

 immediately behind New Abbey ; also in Shambelly Wood, along 

 with immense quantities of Parmelia caperata and perlata, Sticta 

 limhata^ fuUginosa and scrobiculata^ and Opegrapha eleganSt which 

 affects most of the smooth-barked trees, and is particularly beautiful 

 and luxuriant on the hollies. Hypnum Crista Castrensis is very 

 abundant on mossy boulders, in damp shady places in the same wood, 

 and Parmelia sinuosa occurs sparingly on the exposed rocks at the 

 top of the wood ; while Neckera pumila spreads in large patches 

 over the oak- and beech- trees, amid dark masses of Jungermannia 

 tamariscifoUa. 



2. "On the occurrence of Pertusaria Hutchinsice and other rare 

 Lichens on the Breadalbane Mountains,'* by Mr. Alexander C. 

 Maingay. 



3. " Notice of Localities for some of the rarer Plants collected 

 during the recent excursions of the Botanical Class around Edin- 

 burgh," by Professor Balfour. 



4. "Remarks on certain Glandular Structures in Plants," by 

 Mr. George Lawson. 



The author stated that our knowledge of this subject had not 

 kept pace with other branches of vegetable physiology, for it was very 

 much in the same position in which Meyen left it twenty years ago. 

 He pointed out many instances in which the secretions of plants 

 were poured out upon the surface and into the cavities of the plant, 

 and not stored up in its constituent cells ; and referred particularly 

 to the glands of Rubiaceae, Galiacese, Aurantiacese, Passifloraceae, 

 &c. The statement that glands are modified epidermal cells, has 



