110 DR. J. E. Т. AITCHISON ON THE BOTANY OF 
infested by insects and yield no perfect seeds), and some of them bearing receptacles 
containing only female flowers, which produce perfect seeds. This is of so much interest 
that it has been thought worth while to devote a Plate to their illustration ; and it was 
at first decided to figure the insects as well, but that has been left for a specialist to do, 
should it prove of sufficient interest. Both male and female insects were found, closely 
resembling those figured in Gasparrini's work *. Drawings of these, made by Miss M. 
Smith, together with a portion of an infested fruit, were forwarded to Mr. O. Westwood, 
who, although suffering from illness and unable to examine the material thoroughly, 
kindly replied that the insects are a species of Blastophaga, seemingly smaller than 
В. Psenes, Linn. “Тһе female insects have the large, broad fore wings, with the strong, 
curved, stigmal branch, short, nearly quadrate mandibles furnished at the base with the 
curious oval, flat, serrated appendage which is so characteristic of the genus. The little 
fulvous ill-shaped wingless males agree with those of Blastophaga Psenes." 
As may be seen from the drawings, the specimens exhibit great variety in the foliage 
as well as in the length of the peduncles and the shape of the figs (or receptacles), which 
are either sessile or more or lese stipitate. The functionally male specimens collected 
agree exactly with Miquel's Ficus geraniifolia and Boissiers F. Johannis; and there is 
little doubt that F. persica, Boissier, which appears to bea female form, is also F. Carica, 
though the specimens we have seen are insufficient to establish this satisfactorily. Some 
further particulars are given in the description of the Plate; but how far shape of recep- 
tacle, length of peduncle, and other characters coincide with the sexes, the specimens are 
insufficient to determine, though there is considerable variation in both sexes. Generally 
it may be said of the specimens examined, that the female receptacles are more or less 
pear-shaped, stipitate, and borne on relatively short peduncles, whereas the male recep- 
tacles are apple-shaped or spheroidal, shortly stipitate, and borne on long peduncles. 
PARIETARIA OFFICINALIS, Linn.; Boiss. Fl. Or. iv. p. 1149. 
Khorasan: 637, June 16, 1885. Іп clefts, on the shady side of limestone rocks, at 
altitudes above 5000 feet; common. 
PLATANACEJE. 
PLATANUS ORIENTALIS, Linn.; Boiss. Fl. Or. lv. p. 1161. 
Khorasan : 629, June 15, 1885. Native name Chanar. А cultivated tree in villages 
of Afghanistan and Persia. Тһе wood is largely employed, especially in making the 
gates that open into а village. Some very large trees are said to exist аб Maimannah. 
| ‘JUGLANDEA. 
| JUGLANS REGIA, Linn.; Boiss. Fl. Or. iv. p. 1160. 
. . Khorasan: 627, June 15,1885. Native name Jaoz. Largely cultivated at an altitude 
above 3000 feet, where there is a 3004 supply of water. "The fruit is an article of export 
pt 2 % from Afghanistan and Persia to India. 
_ * Ricerche sulla Natura del Caprifico e del Fico e sulla Caprificazione, 1845, 
