2 PKOCEEDIXGS OF THE 



considerable time without loss of vitality. The germination of the 

 seeds of Araiicaria BichvilUi had been previously observed, and the 

 process has been described and illustrated in Kegel's ' Gartenflora,' 

 1865, p. 103 ; but the two stages of growth escaped notice. 

 Another peculiarity is there pointed out : each seed contained two 

 or more embryos, which germinated and grew so that 164 plants 

 were raised from seventy-five seeds. Arancaria BidwiUil is the 

 Bunya-himya of Queensland, and the seeds were formerly an 

 important article of food of the Australian aborigines. — (3) A 

 drawing of Archidendron solomonensis, a new pluricarpellary 

 Leguminous tree, native of the Solomon Islands, where it was 

 discovered by Archdeacon Comins. In this instance there were 

 three ripe pods developed from one flower ; and it was explained 

 that in the flowering stage there were usually eight carpels, but 

 they probably rarely, if ever, all reach maturity. The genus 

 Arcliidendron was founded on an xlustralian species, and since 

 then several other species have been discovered in Xew Guinea, 

 and the adjacent islands. — (4) A selection of South- African species 

 of Helichrysum showing the great diversity in habit, foliage, and 

 flowers displayed by this very large genus of Compositte. In 

 extra-tropical South Africa alone there are probably not less than 

 200 species, and some idea of the variety they present may be 

 gathered from such names as jyaronycMoides, popidi folium, and 

 ericoides. H. ca'sjntitium is like a moss in foliage and habit, 

 forming large cushions which, when covered with saiall white 

 flovrers, resemble some of the alpine species of Arenaria. 



Dr. A. B. Rendle, F.L.S., showed germinating seeds of Crinum 

 longifolium, received from Mr. E. A. Bowles, as an example of the 

 so-called bulbiform seeds which characterize this and some other 

 allied genera of Amaryllidcce. In the genus Calosiemma, Baillou 

 has shown that a bulbil-like structure is developed from a normal 

 ovule by replacement of the embryo-sac by an adventitious shoot, 

 the ovule-integuments becoming at the same time fleshy, to form 

 the outer bulb-scales. But in the majority of cases a true seed is 

 produced, enclosing a normal embryo embedded in endosperm. 

 In Bymenocallis the outer ovule-integument becomes large and 

 fleshy, and forms the bulk of the tuber-like seeds ; w^hereas iu 

 Crinum the ovule is naked from the first, and the tuber-like 

 structure consists of a mass of succulent endosperm svirrounding 

 the embryo. There is no true seed-coat, but the outermost layer 

 of the endosperm has become corky, while in several layers below 

 this protective covering chlorophyll has been developed in the ceils. 

 As Goebel showed for Crinum asiaticum, the endosperm is thus 

 enabled to grow as an independent organism. The course of 

 germination is that characteristic of many Monocotyledons. The 

 lower portion of the cotyledon folloW'S the radicle out of the seed 

 and in its downward growth, carrying the plumule protected in 

 its sheathing base. The tip of the cotyledon remains in the seed, 

 where it enlarges to form a sucker for absorbing the food stored 



