36" 



ing in their centre an apparently empty sac, free all round 

 except at the hase ; while the space between the sac and the 

 sides of the vesicle is filled with a very pale yellow fluid, in 

 which are suspended myriads of spheroidal molecules of in- 

 finite smallness, having a peculiar motion, as if carried along 

 by a general flow round the vesicle of the fluid in which they 

 lie. It is probable that this motion is a mere modification of 

 that which seems universal in the fluid of the hairs of plants ; 

 but want of leisure has prevented my examining it with more 

 attention. No doubt all this complicated apparatus is for 

 the purpose of elaborating the honey that is secreted in the 

 cup of the flower of Rigidella. The whole phsenomenon is 

 exceedingly well worth the attention of some skilful micro- 

 scopical observer. 



It is only necessary to add, that the following words 

 must be introduced into the generic character of Rigidella. 

 " Petala 3, nana, antheriformia, marginibus involutis, supra 

 glandulosa et melliflua, in fundo perianthii." 



65. SOLANUM hetaceum. See no. 61 of tlie miscellaneous matter of this 



volume. 



Mr. Martin Moyes, of the Durdham Down nursery near 

 Bristol, informs me that this plant has fruited with him for 

 several years, and that it is when in fruit very ornamental. 

 Last year it bore about thirty berries, which ripened in Sep- 

 tember, and hung upon the branches till the spring. Two 

 which he was so oblifjing- as to send me were of a rich 

 purple colour, the size and form of a hen's egg ; and had a 

 very agreeable sub-acid taste. It is probable they would 

 really form a good addition to that class of vegetable produc- 

 tions from which sauces are obtained ; for they were free from 

 the peculiar animal flavour of the common Tomatoe, while 

 they possessed all its succulence, with the addition of a mild 

 and pleasant perfume. 



66. BRASSIA verrucosa. 



At the last meeting of the Horticultural Society in 

 Regent Street this beautiful plant was exhibited by Messrs. 

 Rollissons of Tooting. As it is intended for one of the plates 

 in Mr. Bateman's " Orchidacea^ of Mexico and Guatemala," 

 it is only necessary here to state that it is a plant of a par- 

 ticularly graceful habit, and that the flowers are of a clear 



