PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 219 



without any of those scenes of disturbance of which it lias, unfortunately, for 

 the last few years been the arena. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 

 April 20. — J. E. Gray, Esq., F, R. S., Pros., in the chair.— The Secretary read 

 the continuation of his paper, translated from the French of M. De Candolle-, 

 " On the geographical distribution of plants used as food." The memoir included 

 various interesting facts relative tothe dispersion, according to climate and temper- 

 ature, of the graminaceous order, and the uses which they serve in different 

 nations. — The President alluded to the recent discovery of a French botanist, in 

 the leaves of Kylanium. A number of membranous cylinders were found con- 

 stantly projecting from each of the spiculaa, but afterwards became contracted ; 

 and, under a powerful microscope, this may even be seen in specimens preserved 

 for forty years. The experiment has been repeated with success. — A communi- 

 cation was read by Mr. T. Hancock, on certain peculiarities in the two species 

 of Lamium, viz. L. maculatum and L. album. The author's attention was first 

 attracted to the subject by his having observed that many specimens of L, 

 maculatum were entirely destitute of the white longitudinal patches on the 

 leaves, which are described by some authors as its most important specific 

 character. Mr. H. had also seen several specimens with white flowers, and so 

 closely resembling L. album as to be with difficulty distinguished from it. From 

 these and other circumstances he believes the two plants to be merely varieties of 

 the same species. Their near affinity had often been observed by botanists ; but 

 no one except Dr. LinDley had ever so arranged them. Mr. H. considered the 

 number of whorls not sufficient to form a specific character, and cited Sir W. J. 

 Hooker's remark respecting the constant purple colour of the flowers, which was 

 refuted by his own observation, as well as by that of others. We cannot our- 

 selves consider the identity of L. album and L. maculatum as proved; the matter 

 is one of considerable interest, and can only be determined by following up Mr. 

 Hancock's observations. Mr. H. is of opinion that the garden specimen figured 

 and described by REicHENBACHas L. maculatum was really L. purpureum. 



MEDICO-BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 



April 26. — Earl Stanhope, F. R. S., Pres., in the chair. — "Remarks on the 

 Haiowa, and on some kindred species," by Dr. Hancock, were read. This 

 elegant tree inhabits the mountain regions of Guiana, and also near the coast, and 

 is highly valued by the natives for its numerous applications in arts and medi- 

 cine. Dr. H. enumerated its botanical characters, and considered the species 

 identical with Icicia heptaphylla of Aublet and De Candolle, and Amyris 

 ambrosiaca of Wilde. The fruit, leaves, and bark abound with a sweet odori!er- 



No. 10, Vol. II. 2« 



