132 DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 



the lateral buds, terete, the younger ones clothed with a short, ferru- 

 ginous pubescence or tomentum. Leaves in pairs, about an inch apart, 

 decussating, 1 or 1J inch long, J inch wide, oblong-ovate, subcordate 

 at base and partly amplexicaul, sessile, horizontally patent, some- 

 what wavy, glabrous, pellucid- dotted with a cartilagineo-membranous 

 serrulate margin, one ribbed, with immersed pinnating and intra- 

 marginal veins. Peduncles axillary, geminate (?), (in our specimen 

 only one is developed), 2-4 lines long, terete, pubescent. Bractea 

 subtending the base of each peduncle, and two at the base of the calyx, 

 where that is articulated to the peduncle. Calyx tube turbinate, rather 

 shorter than the limb. Sepals 5, oblong-ovate, very obtuse, with scarious 

 entire margins. Petals 2-3 times as long as the sepals, ovate, tapering 

 at base into a short claw, concave, very obtuse, pellucid -dotted, mar- 

 cescent. Stamens inserted with the petals in a single series, confluent 

 at base into a broad perigynous ring, very numerous for the genus, 50 

 or more ; filaments filiform, of unequal length, incurved, anthers short, 

 erect, 2-celled; cells parallel, opening longitudinally, with a gland-like, 

 swollen connective, dorsally inserted. Ovary nearly superior, its base 

 only confluent with the tube of the calyx, but the whole of the ovule- 

 producing portion is free, rising above a broad perigynous fleshy rim, 

 which separates it from the staminal circle, trilocular, and distinctly 

 three-lobed ; ovules numerous, about twelve in each cell, fixed to a 

 fungous axile placenta, sessile ; style subulate, curved, stigma simple. 



This plant seems to agree in all essential respects with Hypocalymna, 

 except that the ovules are more numerous, in which respect it coincides 

 with Astartea ; but it differs from that genus in having the stamens 

 monadelphous. In habit it most resembles Hyp. cordifolium, but is much 

 larger and more robust, with broad leaves and tomentose terete branches. 



The mere circumstance of a greater number of ovules in each cell, 

 where they vary from one to three in other species, seems hardly sufficient 

 to establish a separate genus for the present species. 



FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 21, 1858. 



Pbofessob "W. H. Habvey, M. D., F. L. S., Vice-Pbesident, 

 in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the last Meeting having been read, were approved of, 

 and signed by the Chairman. 



