.10* llEPORTS OF MEETINGS, 



BOTANICAL SECTION 



THIS Section carried out its usual programme of walks and excursions 

 during the last Summer. The -work of the Winter session has 

 consisted almost entirely in arranging and incorporating with the Herbarium, 

 the large collection of plants belonging to the late Mr. Dunn, the greater 

 part of which was purchased by the Section, and the rest purchased and 

 presented to it by members and others. This collection consists not only of 

 British species, but of plants from various parts of the world. 



The following paper by Mr. T. H. Yabbicom was read at one of the eve- 

 ning meetings : " Nicotiana Tabacum." 



The genus Nicotiana, belongs to the natural order Solanacese which 

 embraces among its genera mny important plants numbering about 900 

 species, most of which are herbaceous or small shrubs natives of all parts of 

 the world,'except the coldest, but flourishing most in the tropics. The property 

 of this tribe is Narcotic, many of the plants being highly so ; as the Atropa 

 Belladonna, many species of Solanum, a very extensive genus, comprising as 

 many as 600 species ?s well as the genus under consideration this evening. 

 The most important plant probably of the order is the potatoe {S. tuberosum,) 

 which having leaves and berries containing narcotic matter, has scarcely a 

 trace in the tubers. Hyoscyamus, Datura, Capsicum, and Lycopersicum (the 

 last produces Tomatoes) are also important genera. 



The generic name Nicotiana, is derived from Jean Nicot of Nimes in 

 Languedoc, an agent of the king of France at Portugal, who there procured 

 the seeds of the tobacco from a Dutchman who had procured them in Florida. 

 Nicot sent them to France in 1560, and a letter from him is still preserved in 

 the castle of Belem, in which he speaks of his first introduction to this 

 *' herb of peculiarly pleasant taste, good medicinally in fevers." 



When Nicot returned in 1561 to France he presented some of the plants to 

 Catherine de Medici, and in compliment to her the plants were 

 called Eerbe de la Reine and Herbe Medicei. The native name pelun was 

 also used but gradually all these gave place to one, in honor of the original 

 importer. In Floi-a domestiea 15 synonymes are given all of which have 

 fallen into disuse. The characteristics of the genus Nicotiana are herbaceous 

 plants (rarely sub-shrubs) generally clothed with clammy hairs or down. 



Flowers. Terminal, racemose, or panelled of a white, green, or purplish 

 colour. 



