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ORDINARY MONTHLY MEETING. 

 June 25th, 1913. 

 Mr. W. S. Dun, President, in the Chair. 



Dr. J. R. L. Dixon, University of Sydney, was elected an 

 Ordinary Member of the Society. 



The Donations and Exchanges received since the previous 

 Monthly Meeting (28th May, 1913), amounting to 6 Vols., 

 53 Parts or Nos., 7 Bulletins, 1 Report, and 3 Pamphlets, 

 received from 44 Societies, were laid upon the table. 



NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 



M r. Fred Turner exhibited and contributed notes on Eragrostis 

 lanijlora Benth., one of the " Love-grasses," collected near 

 Byrock, New South Wales. The thick, almost bulbous woolly 

 bases, which are characteristics of this species, were remarkably 

 well developed in the specimens shown; and from long observa- 

 tion of this and other Australian species of Graminese with 

 bulbous or thick, knotty bases, he was of the opinion that they 

 were provided by Nature for storing up plant-food to sustain 

 these grasses during periods of very dry weather, and to preserve 

 them from extinction. In the interior, grasses that have de- 

 veloped these characteristics remain green much longer durino- 

 adverse seasons than those without them, and quickly recover 

 after rainfall. During a prolonged drought, when every vestige 

 of grass-foliage has disappeared, these, swollen bases, which are 

 generally enveloped in a woolly substance that prevents the 

 evaporation of moisture, and their strong, long fibrous roots 

 which penetrate deeply into the earth, remain dormant until the 

 condition of the soil and weather is favourable for them to again 

 put forth green stems and leaves. Mr. Turner had exhibited at 

 meetings of the Society, during recent years, all the known Aus- 

 tralian grasses with bulbous or thick, knotty leaves. Eragrostis 

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