278 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



of the stems, ovate-oblong, acuminate aud undulate, of a thin 

 texture compared with other forms of D. Speciosum The 

 flowers also are much more delicate. Our common Elkshorn 

 fern, Platy cerium alcicome, Desc, on account of its fronds in the 

 tropics being at times, and especially when found growing on 

 logs near the ground, of a much thicker substance than else- 

 where, has been thought to be a distinct species, and named as 

 such in some of our gardens. It is this luxuriant growth which 

 astonishes the traveller on first seeing tropical vegetation. Who 

 can see a tree of Pittosporum rubiginosum, A. Ounn., with its 

 bunches of large orange-coloured terminal fruit nestling in 

 its magnificent foliage, which is so membranaceous that it 

 waves with the least puff of wind, without admiration ? These 

 fruits, although so tempting, are not fit to eat. But this 

 is not the case with all our tropical fruits, several being 

 excellent. A species of Antidesma, A. Dallachyanum, Baill., 

 produces a fruit which will doubtless some day be collected, 

 and be made into preserves for exportation. The tree is an 

 abundant bearer, and the fruits are equal in size to the 

 European Cherry. Another of this genus A. erostre, F. von 

 M., bears a smaller fruit, resembling the Red Currant of Europe ; 

 it possesses an agreeable acid, and would doubtless make a 

 fine jelly. The shrub grows from 15 to 20 feet high, and 

 when laden with fruit has a very pretty appearance. Making 

 one's way through these northern scrubs, one is often amazed at 

 the singular forms of vegetation there displayed. As for 

 instance, the mode of flowering of Eugenia cormiflora, F. von M. 

 The flowers of this tree are large, of a white or delicate pink 

 color, but instead of being produced on the branches of the 

 heart, they form a belt round the trunk — say, two feet wide, at 

 about three or four feet from the ground, and often 20 feet below 

 the lowest branch. The stems of the trees, as also the old logs 

 of these scrubs, will be found of special interest to the botanist ; 

 here he will fall in with his Epiphytes, Lichens and Fungi. Of 

 these latter he will find many beautiful examples, for instance, 

 the shining fungus Polyporus lucidus, Fr., which has the 



