1880.] natural sciences of philadelphia. 355 



October 26. 

 The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in tlie chair. 

 Nineteen persons present. 



The deaths of Dr. Chas. H. Budd and of Joshua Lippincott, 

 members, were announced. 



Samuel R. Kuiglit, M. D., and Rev. Wm. F. C. Morsell were 

 elected members. 



November 2. 



The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 



Twentj^-four persons present. 



Rain Trees. Note on Yucca gloriosa.—'Mv. Thomas Meehan 

 referred .to a branch of Yucca gloriosa.^ exhibited a few evenings 

 ago, taken from a plant growing in his garden, and which had 

 flowered during September, the usual period for blooming near 

 Philadelphia. Walldng through his garden with Mr. Isaac C. 

 Martindale, the latter had called his attention to moisture which 

 covered the whole outer surface of the flowers, and collected in 

 drops at the drooping apices of each leaf of the perianth. The 

 plant was within, a few days' of going wholl}' out of bloom, but 

 during these few daj's the exhibition of moisture continued, and 

 the appearance of the leaves beneath showed that the dropping of 

 liquid had been going on for some time, and perhaps during the 

 whole flowering season. There was no perceptible sweetness in 

 the liquid, but the presence of ants indicated that it might possi- 

 bly have a slightly saccharine character, though not sensible to 

 the human tongue. It was diflicult to decide whether this liquid 

 was an exudation from the leaves of the perianth or Avas simply 

 an exercise of the power of condensing moisture in the atmo- 

 sphere which some plants possessed, notal)ly the Pithecdohium 

 Saman, Benth., famous as the " Rain-tree " of Peru, which watered 

 its own roots by the moisture condensed from the atmosphere, 

 thus en!d)ling the tree to live in almost rainless regions, if the 

 reports of travelers are to be fidly credited. He hoi)ed to make 

 further oliscrvatious on the Yucca another year. 



November 9. 



The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 



Twenty-four persons i)resent. 



The resijTuation of Mr. Geo. Vaux as a member of Council was 

 "read and accepted. 



