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Gelehrte Gesellschaften. 



Edinburgh Botanical Society: July 14. 



The Society met in the class-room, Royal Botanic Garden, Professor 

 Isaac Bayley Balfour in the chair. The death of Professor Schieiden, 

 as well as that of Professor George S. Blackie, M. ü. , of Nashville, 

 Tennessee, were noted. 



The following Communications were made : 



I. Mr. (-«eddes read a paper on Chlamydomyxa labyrinthuloides Archer, 

 a remarkable organism, discovered by Archer in the cells of sphagnum, and 

 described by him in the Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science for 1875. 

 The lamination of the cell coatings, and the formation' of peculiar wart-like 

 thickenings inclosing red pigment, were considered as tending to support the 

 old view of growth by accretion of successive laminse. The occasional 

 collection of the Chlorophyll into definite patches — incipient Chlorophyll 

 grains — was also described. A distinct resting Protococcus stage occurs early 

 in development. 



On these grounds it was pointed out that this organism could not be 

 satisfactorily referred to any existing animal or vegetable group, since it 

 presented close affinities with the Rhizopods on the one band, and with the 

 Palmellaceous Algse on the other. A more perfectly intermediate type, 

 indeed, cannot be imagined. 



An interesting and animated discussion followed, in which the President, 

 Professor D i c k s o n , and Ramsay MacNab, of Dublin, took part. 



IL Mr. J. M. Macfarlane read „Notes on the Action of Aniline Dyes 

 on Vegetable Forms" , describing a new method of preparing and staining 

 laticiferous vessels by coagulating the latex with alcohol, and afterwards 

 staining with saffranine; the specimens being best preserved in glycerine 

 jelly. Certain improvements both in double staining and the use of various 

 aniline dyes for demonstrating the minute structure of cells were also indicated. 



III. „Notes on Plauts Grown at Hay Lodge, Trinity". By Mr. Isaac 

 Anderson-Henry, F.R.S.E., F.L.S. 



The attention of the Society was first directed to two plants of Androsace 

 incisa, raised by Mr. Henry from seed sent by his niece from the hills 

 above Rawul Pindee. Sir Joseph Hooker has confirmed the naming of 

 the plants, one of which he proposes to figure in the Botanical Magazine. 

 The furthest advanced of the two plants on the table showed the tendency 

 in the flowers to fade off into scarlet before they die. As this species blooms 

 well in the open border it appears well suited for the rockery. Another 

 plant, apparently a species of Dracocephalum, collected by the same relative 

 in Ladak or Kashmir, had stood all winter in the open border, thus appearing 

 quite hardy. A beautiful Sanguisorba raised from Sikkim seeds was also 

 exhibited. 



Amongst the hybrids sent was a Primula (P. rosea X P. kashmirensis) 

 in flower, as well as another plant flowering at this late season for Primulas. 

 The leaves are slightly fragrant, though a disagreeable odour is emitted by 

 the foliage of both parents — that of the P. kashmirensis being quite offensive. 

 A hybrid Rhododendron (R. Jenkensii X R. Edgworthii), made in 1864, but 

 only blooming now, showed in the only bloom open five petals, apparently 

 all pedicelled, though they all may be joined at the bottom ; yet the flowers 

 of both parents are monopetalous. The plant exhibited bloome in June, and 

 the style and seed vessels are yet upon it, springing, as it were, out of a 

 kind of involucre. This cross has been recognised by hybridists as a most 

 difficult feat to accomplish. 



A plant of which the foliage was very fragrant with a perfume like that 

 of lavender or lemon , and with umbels something like that of Bouvardia, 

 but which the threadlike filaments of one of its flowers showed it not to be, 

 was submitted for determination. 



A plant of Rheum Moorcroftianum had been raised from seeds collected 

 by Dr. Aitchison in Afghanistan at elevations between 12,000 and 14,000 



