96 Limiean Society. [March 2, 



March 2. 



Mr. Forster, V.P., in the Chair. 



Read a " Description of a new genus of Plants from Brazil." By 

 John Miers, Esq., F.L.S. 



The following are the characters of the new genus described : — 



TRIURIS. 



Flores dioici. Periantliii foliola 3, obovata, infra apicem processu longo 

 instructa. <J AnthercB 3? sessiles, loculis disjunctis, imo androphoro 

 raagno carnoso centrali insertae. $ Pistilla numerosissima, aggregata, 

 supera. Styli simplices, subulati. Fructus ignotus. — Planta pusilla 

 hyalina, foliis paucis bracteiformibus. 



T. hyalina. 



Hob. in humidis Serra dos Orgaos Provincise Rio de Janeiro. 



Mr. Miers observed this minute plant only in a single locality, and 

 was unable to find ripe fruit. He perceived, however, in each pistil- 

 lum what appeared to him to be a solitary ovule, but so minute and 

 indistinct as to be evident only by the aj^pearance of a darker oval 

 form in the centre. He has consequently no positive evidence 

 whether it is Monocotyledonous or Dicotyledonous ; but is induced 

 by various considerations to refer it to the former class. He notices 

 the points in which it appears to him to bear some resemblance to 

 different Monocotyledonous families, and suggests that, as it cannot 

 be distinctly referred to any of them, it may probably be taken as 

 the type of a distinct order, holding a place between BurmanniacecB 

 and Fluviales. 



The processes which are noticed in the character as arising from 

 below the apices of the divisions of the perianthium, are described 

 as capUlary tubes three times as long as the segments, within which 

 they are coiled up during aestivation, their apices exhibiting at the 

 apex of the bud three minute pore-like apertures open externally. 



Read also a " Note on the Preservation of Specimens of Natural 

 History." By Hyde Clarke, Esq., F.L.S. 



Mr. Clarke suggests the apphcation of Payne's apparatus for the 

 preservation of animal substances for domestic purposes, to the pre- 

 servation of objects of Natural History. The apparatus consists of 

 an iron cylinder, in which the subject for preparation is placed, and 

 the air-tight cover screwed down. The air is then exhausted by 

 means of an air-pump, and when a sufficient exhaustion has been 

 effected, a cock is opened communicating with a vessel containing 



