IGO THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



and it proves the origin of a natural hybrid that has been recorded 

 from three locahties in Italy, and is known under the names of 

 0. Grampinii Cortesi, and 0. etrusca Asch. & Grabn. The 

 hybrids varied somewhat between themselves, but all showed an 

 unmistakable combination of the characters of the two parents, 

 particularly in the colour and markings of the lip, and in the 

 peculiar combination of rose and green in the sepals and petals. 

 M. Denis has a batch of some forty seedlings in flower or bud. At 

 least eighteen natural hybrid Ophryses have been recorded, and 

 Mr. Eolfe believed there were others. He would be greatly 

 obliged to anyone who would send him examples at the Kew 

 Herbarium, as he is studying them. 



i\.T the meeting of the same Society on May 7th, Mr. H. N. 

 Eidley gave an account of "The Botany of the Utakwa Expedi- 

 tion, Dutch New Guinea," which had been worked up by various 

 botanists. He stated that the extensive collection of plants made 

 by Mr. C. B. Kloss during Mr. Wollaston's expedition to Mount 

 Carstensz, Dutch New Guinea, in 1912-13, is the most important 

 collection of New Guinea plants brought to this country. In 

 spite of the large collections made by Dutch and German collec- 

 tors, there are upwards of five hundred new species and eight new 

 genera in the collection, many of great interest. The plants were 

 collected at various heights from sea-level to an altitude of about 

 13,000 feet, where vegetation ceased. The areas explored may be 

 divided into four botanical regions: — (1) The Coastal region, 

 where the flora was largely of Malayan affinity. (2) The foot- 

 hills, ranging from 500 to 3000 feet elevation, an area of dense 

 forest, the flora still typically Malayan but containing a distinct 

 Australian element. (3) The Frontal mountain belt from 3000 to 

 8000 feet elevation, the begonia and balsam region. Here culti- 

 vation ceased. Palms disappear, and the first of the Palsearctic 

 forms are met with, such as Viola, Banunculus, Hypericum, and 

 Galium. (4) The main mountain range. Here the big forest 

 trees disappear, and herbaceous plants show a marked increase. 

 Casuarinas, Pandani, and Violets form a conspicuous part of the 

 flora. The highest tree is Podocarpus papuanus, sp. nov. This 

 attains an altitude of 10,500 feet. Above 11,000 feet the rocks 

 became too steep for most plants, the only plants being rhodo- 

 dendron bushes, a daisy {Myriactis), some grasses and mosses. 

 The flora of this upper region from 8000 feet upwards comprised 

 many Palaearctic forms. Geranium, Thalictrum, Astilbe, Euphrasia, 

 Potentilla, Gentiana, &c., with the Australian types, Pterostylis 

 and Corysanthes. 



We regret to announce the recent deaths of Mr. William 

 West, Mr. J. A. Martindale, and the Eev. E. N. Bloomfield, of 

 whom notices will appear in due course. 



The address of the Eev. H. J. Eiddelsdell is now Wigginton 

 Eectory, Banbury. 



