Ivi Proceedings of the Botanical Society of 



of Leaves in the Genus Sansevieria." She stated that four 

 species had been studied minutely and also seedhng leaves 

 of 6". cylindrica. All were inhabitants of the Eastern Hemi- 

 sphere, and so far as she could learn they often grew in 

 rocky or sandy places exposed to intense sun. She then 

 compared the leaf structure in macro- and microscopic char- 

 acters, contrasting the stomata, epidermal cells, fibres, bun- 

 dles and chlorophyll tissue in the species. Dr. Miller sug- 

 gested that possibly aloin might exist in these, and described 

 the substance as first extracted by Smith Brothers. 



Mr. R. C. Banes next gave "Snap Shots on the Flora of 

 Jamaica." He described the varied and abundant vegeta- 

 tion of the coastal region, and said that in a comparatively 

 short walk one might secure forty-five to fifty species of 

 fern alone. Short descriptions followed of the Government 

 Botanic Gardens, but the speaker particularly dealt with the 

 rich flora of the hill regions, and explained the meteorologi- 

 cal conditions that permitted the growth of filmy and other 

 ferns in great luxuriance. His lecture was illustrated by 

 numerous lantern slides. 



May 2. Dr. Miller, President, in the chair. Dr. Amos 

 P. Brown spoke on "The Flora of the Coal Period." He 

 said that during past ages of the earth's history, several 

 coal periods had occurred. During the Palaeozoic period, 

 the interior of this continent was covered with large areas 

 of comparatively shallow water, and with tracts of marshy 

 land highly favorable to a rich, luxuriant vegetation. De- 

 posits were laid down from streams and rivers along the 

 shores of these marshes, and these deposits, when rich in 

 plant remains, formed the future coal beds. Frequent 

 land depressions occurred also, and then extensive lime- 

 stone deposits were made. No great body of land existed 

 in the far north, either of America or Asia, while west of 

 the Rockies were a few islands, and eastward, land and 

 water areas interspersed. The speaker then sketched the 

 leading groups of plants represented in the coal strata, and 



