LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. IX 



cJiorfus, and Eu-Lloydia. 4, In the section Gageopsis of Lloydia 

 we have a truncated corm. The leaves are very uniform through- 

 out the tribe, with the exception of a section oi Lilium {Cardiocri- 

 num) with long clasping petioles and very large broad leaves with 

 a deep cordate base and reticulated venation. The perianth- 

 leaves are all coloured, except in Calochortus, in which the three 

 outer segments are sepaloid and lengthened into points. The 

 stamens are always six in number and nearly equal in length, 

 hypogynous, and the dehiscence of the anther never properly in- 

 trorse, but lateral, exactly as in ColcJiicum. In the capsule Calo- 

 chortus differs from the other genera in its septicidal dehiscence. 

 As regards the connexion between Liliacese and Colchicacese 

 Mr. Baker is disposed to lay less stress than before on the exist- 

 ence of any sharp line of demarcation between the orders, all the 

 characters usually ascribed to the latter order being found in 

 some of the genera of Liliacese. As to its geographical distribu- 

 tion, the tribe is spread throughout the north temperate zone ; only 

 one species, Lloydia serotina, is really boreal and alpine ; the 

 southern limits are Mexico, the Philippines, South China, the Neil- 

 gherries, and the southern borders of the Mediterrrnean ; the prin- 

 cipal concentration of species is in California and Japan ; nearly 

 all are hardy in this climate. Lilium, with 46, and Fritillaria, with 

 55 species, have the distribution of the tribe, the latter stopping 

 eastwards at the Rocky Mountains, while the former reaches the 

 Atlantic sea- board ; Tulipa, with 48 species, is restricted to the 

 Old World, reaching from Spain, Britain, and Scandinavia to Japan 

 and the Himalayas ; Calochortus, with 21 species, is confined to 

 Mexico and the west side of the Eocky Mountains. Of the 5 

 species of JErythronium, 1 is confined to the Old "World and 4 to 

 the New ; the 3 species of Gageopsis are oriental and Siberian ; 

 while Lloydia serotina is the most widely spread of all Liliacese, 

 and a unique instance of a petaloid Monocotyledon of the north 

 temperate zone with almost universal high-mountain and arctic 

 distribution. 



December 18th, 1873. 



Geoege Bentham, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



The Eev. John Robinson Porter and Harry Bolus, Esq., were 

 elected Fellows. 



