BY P. A. o'sHANESY, F.L.S. 745 



Note on Palmebia of the Monimiace^e. 



By the Eev. De. Woolls, D.D., P.L.S., &c. 



Since the publication of the fifth volume of our Flora, it has 

 been ascertained that the straggling shrub, known as P. racemosa, 

 (DC), occurs in the creeks near Lane Cove, and also in the 

 gullies on the Blue Mountains. Only female flowers, and tho,se 

 very small, have been found in the latter locality. Mr. Benth^tn 

 in his note on P. racemosa, expresses an opinion that the specimens 

 from the neighbourhood of Parramatta and also from the Blue 

 Mountains may really belong to the Northern species P. scandens 

 (P.v.M.). The principal mark of distinction between the two 

 species is the number of stamens in the male flowers, P. scandens 

 usually having only about 20, and P. racemosa 60 or more, whilst 

 the foliage, inflorescence, and indumentum are pretty much the 

 same. Within the last year, it has been found that Palmer ia 

 extends to Illawarra, and from specimens which I forwarded to 

 Baron F. von Mueller, that eminent Botanist inclines to the 

 opinion that the two species must be united, as from an examin- 

 ation of the male flowers, he finds that the Illawarra plant is 

 intermediate in the number of the stamens. It would appear 

 that Mr. Bentham had no opportunity of seeing the specimens of 

 Baume and Huegel, and it was only from Tulasne's description 

 (which represents P. racemosa as a tree !) that he inferred a real 

 distinction between P. scandens and P. racemosa. Perhaps it may 

 be premature to express a decided opinion, but it seems from the 

 material now procured that the Palmeria ranging here and there 

 form Eockingham Bay to Illawarra is in fact only one species. 



Species of Alsophila in New South "Wales. 



By the Eev. Db. Woolls, D.D., P.L.S., &c. 



There is great difficulty in distinguishing the species of 

 Alsophila when seen only in dried specimens, and hence the late 



