140 DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 



in many points with the multiform assemblage that embraces Saxifra- 

 gaceae in its widest sense, including therein, besides the proper Saxifrages, 

 the Droseraceae, Brexiaceae, Cunoniaceae, Escaloniaceae, &c, yet it will 

 fall under none of these sub-orders, though partaking of the characters 

 of each. From Brexiaceae, which it greatly resembles in the structure 

 of its andrcecium, and the outward appearance of the ovary and style, as 

 well as in the calyx and corolla, it differs, in having a unilocular ovary, 

 with parietal placentae, and abundant albumen in the seeds. The alter- 

 nate leaves, simple style, and placentation, separate it from Cunoniaceae; 

 the placentation and free ovary, from Escaloniaceae; lastly, though dif- 

 fering so greatly in habit from Droseraceae, it agrees with that sub-order 

 in placentation, and in the glandular exudation of its leaves. The 

 leaves and their glands are, however, much more like those of a Kibes, 

 or of one of the scarlet Pelargoniums of the section Ciconium. At pre- 

 sent, all things duly considered, I place it as the type of a sub-order in 

 Saxifragaceae, standing next Brexieae. 



I am happy to be able to add, that healthy plants of it are now 

 growing in the Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, having been raised by Mr. 

 Moore from a few seeds sent by Dr. Sutherland. A more interesting 

 addition to our conservatory shrubs has not been made for many years. 



The next plant to be noticed is a new species of Sterculia, discovered 

 by Dr. R. C. Alexander, F.L.S., in a narrow "kloof" (or gully) of the 

 Yanstaaden Mountains, close to the town of Uitenhage, in a neighbour- 

 hood rendered famous among botanists by the explorations and long 

 residence of Mr. Charles Zeyher, one of the ablest of South African col- 

 lectors. Yet this Sterculia, though a tree, has escaped his notice, and 

 probably, therefore, it is of very rare occurrence. Dr. Alexander observed 

 but a solitary trunk, and that in a remote gorge of the mountains. The 

 following character will suffice to distinguish it : — 



Sterculia Alexandri (Jlarv.) : foliis digitatim compositis quinatis ; 

 foliolis oblongis obtusis mucronulatis basi acutis glabris reticulatis; 

 racemis pauci-floris petiolo brevioribus; calyce campanulato 5-7 fido 

 utrinque puberulo. (Plate XY.) 



Hab. : Mountain Kloof, near Uitenhage ; Dr. R. C. Alexander. 



A small tree, with a thick stem, and soft, spongy wood ; the leaves 

 crowded near the ends of the branches. 



It is obviously related to S. fostida, a common species in tropical 

 Asia; but in that the leaflets are acuminate, the racemes long and lax, 



