LIXNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDOX. 49 



With regard to Orchis latifolla L., it is doubtful whetlier there 

 is in this country anytliing so-called that is not a liybrid or a 

 mongrel dei'ived from two or more of the six forms already dealt 

 with. 



In striking contrast with the other forms, seeds from different 

 or even from the same 0. latifolia vary greatly in all the points which 

 have been noted. 



On tlie continent there is a form believed also to be Erilish, 

 referable to Orchis majalis Eeichb., \vhose seeds appear to be 

 uniform. They combine some of the characters of each group, 

 but this does not necessarily spell hybridity, nor does their 

 appearance suggest it. 



It is possible that this form may be a now well-established 

 hybrid-species of one of the Maculatte with one of the Latifolise, 

 or it may be the parent of both these groups. 



That question, along with all those connected with the so-called 

 0. latifolia L. in this country can, in the opinion of the author, be 

 settled only by careful and extensive experiments in breeding. 



Colonel GoDFERT gave an account of the occurrence of certain 

 of these forms abroad, especially in the case of those which did 

 not grow associated with allied forms. The exhibitor replied. 



Prof. A. Denuy, F.R.S., F.L.S., and Miss Leslie M. Freoeiiick 

 presented a joint paper " Ou a Collection of Sponges from the 

 Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia," Miss Frederick commenting 

 oil the forms by the aid of lantern-slides. 



Dr. Gr. P. Bidder congratulated Miss Frederick on her joining 

 the somewhat restricted number of students of sponges, and upon 

 the result of the work shown. 



Dr. Ethel N. Miles Thomas followed with her " Observations 

 on the Seedling Anatomy of the Grenus Bichiusy 



The interest of this communication lies in the discovery of a 

 widespread feature of seedling anatomy, in conjunction with 

 anatomical arrangements very diverse from those with which it is 

 usually associated. 



Tiie passage from root to hypocotyl was briefly described in 

 1900 by Miss Edith Chick for liicinus communis (Proc. Roy. Soc. 

 Edin. xxii. (1900) pp. 117-129). She states that transition takes 

 place entirely in the "root" as defined by the position of the 

 collet, and that above the collet only stem structure is met with. 



The present investigation establishes the presence of alternate 

 or root xylem in the hypocotyl and cotyledons of several species of 

 Bicimis, including li. communis. Moreover, it demonstrates that 

 at an early stage the alternate or radial elements alotie are lignified. 



In spite of these new facts, however, Miss Chick's account 

 remains substantially true in that the tissue groupings associated 

 with root structure are only found low in the axis, while above the 



LINN. soc. PROCEEDINGS. — SESSION 1922-23. e 



