PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 57 



wi th buds ; but, after a careful microscopic examination, all tiirn out to be 

 male buds, while the specimen sent from England, by Mr. Frere, has male buds, 

 and ripe fruit on the same branch. From the state of the male buds on both 

 plants alluded to, it seems impossible that these male flowers can liave the 

 stamens sufficiently developed before March or April. VIII. Notes on Carex 

 paniculata. By Mr. M'Nab. The Royal Botanic Garden has recently been 

 presented with three plants of Carex paniculata, sent by Mr. Archibald Gorrie, 

 forester to the Earl of Leicester, Holkham Hall, Norfolk. The plants measure, 

 from the base of the roots to the extreme points of the leaves, 8 feet 6 inches, 

 independent of what must have been cut off in the lifting. They have been 

 growing in deep rich soil, as three feet of the lower portion of each has been 

 bared of the peat ; the part remaining is filled up with a mass of longitudinal 

 roots or fibres, each nearly half an inch round. The circumference of the upper 

 root portion of the largest plant is 5 feet 3 inches wide, from whicli a large 

 crown of leaves proceeds. One of the plants has an upright stem above the 

 peat, 1 foot 9 inches long, and 3 feet 6 inches in circumference, composed of 

 the dead portions of the leaves ; from the top of this pseudo-stem the large 

 tuft of leaves is growing. The stem of this plant between the leaves and the 

 peat has the lower base of tlie fallen leaves quite short and brown, appearing 

 as if they had been destroyed by fire. It is impossible to guess at the age of 

 these gigantic sedges ; but, judging from the quantity of decayed leaves round 

 the base of each plant, and the way the peat seems to grow or rise round them, 

 they must at least be a century old. Very few fruit spikes were observed, and 

 of those found, tiie heads were comparatively small, the largest not more than 

 £5 inches long. Some idea may be formed of the size and weight of these 

 plants from the ftict that it required three men to lift each of them. Mr. 

 G-orrie writes : — " We have some taller and heavier plants than any of those 

 sent. I observe they grow strongest when the roots get into the water. I am 

 told, when foxes abound, they are very fond of lying on the top of the Carex 

 tussocks, and basking in the sun. This gigantic Carex is very common on sodden 

 peaty soils in Norfolk. I have also seen it at the Duke of Grafton's, and at other 

 places in Suffolk, Ukewise near Bury St. Edmund's." IX. 'Sotes on Pinus Ben- 

 thamiana. By Mr. M'Nab. Mr. C. W. Peach, of Haddington Place, Edinburgli, 

 exhibited a large cone, ripened at Overton, Orton, Peterborough, tlie seat of 

 Charles Bodger, Esq., under the name of Pinus macrocarpa. Tiiis cone is 6^ 

 inches long and 14 inclies in circumference. Piniis macrocarpa is by many con- 

 sidered as synonymous with Pinus CouUeri and P. Sabiniana. The cone sent 

 by Mr. Peach agrees with the description of Pinus Benthamiana, of Hartvveg, 

 which we have never seen in cone. Numerous plants are cultivated throughout 

 the coimtry, raised from cones, introduced about eiglit years ago, under the 

 name of Pinus Benthamiana. Tlie cones were 4^ inclies long and 7 inches in 

 circumference. The habit of the plants, and the size and arrangement of the 

 leaves of many of tliem, resemble the true P. Benthamiana. It is not impro- 

 bable that all will turn out to be P.ponderosa, or a variety of it. In all cases, 

 a few cones ought to be sent home witii seeds for identification. X. Exliibi- 

 tions and Presentations. 1. Major Peploe exhibited and presented a cone of 



