122 Linnean Society. [Dec. 21 



malous ; it is probably, I conjecture, developed originally within the 

 leaf, and the scale between it and the female is probably analogous 

 to the indusium of ferns. The most instructive plant is Anthoceros 

 (which is not a Hepatica), for this may explain Ferns by showing 

 that a pre-existing organ, to be acted upon by the male influence , is 

 not necessary. Endhcher says Isoetes has no stomata ; De Candolle 

 figures them in his ' Organographie ;' in /. capsularis they are very 

 evident : no matter whether emerged or submerged, all plants having 

 a cutis have stomata." 



Read also a paper " On a new genus of Plants from Chile." By 

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



This genus, which is named by Mr. Miers Solenomelus, on account 

 of the confluence into a tubular form both of the stamina and stig- 

 mata, belongs to the natural order IridecR, and is thus characterized : 



Solenomelus. 



Cruckshanksia, Miers, Travels in Chile, ii. p. 529. iion Hook. 



Perianthium petaloideum ; tubo brevi incurvo ; limbo 6-partito, laciniis 

 patentibus, 3 superioribus erectioribus, 3 infericribus deflexis. Tubus 

 stamineiis cum tubo perianthii coalitus, demiim liber, ore antheras 3 

 sessiles gevens. Stylus filiformis. Stigma integrum, urceolato-tubulo- 

 sum, margine ciliatum. Capsula triquetra, tvilocularis, loculicido-tri- 

 valvis. — Herbae Chilenses perennes, habitu Sisyrinchii. Spatha bivalvis, 

 dorso sub apice mucronata. Flores hreviter pedicellati. 



1. Solenomelus Ckilensis, foliis lineari-ensiformibus, corolla aurantiaca. 

 Cruckshanksia graminea, Miers, Travels in Chile, ii. p. 529. 



Hab. apud Concon, locis umbrosis. 



2. Solenomelits punctatus, foliis angustioribus, corolla aurantiaca; laciniis 

 singulis supra basin puncto sanguineo notatis. 



Hab. prope Concepcion. 



Mr. Miers observes, that the curved corolla, the coherence of the 

 filaments throughout their entire length, and the union of the stig- 

 mata into an urceolate tube, afi"ord characters that sufficiently di- 

 stinguish this genus from Sisyrinchium, to which it is in other re- 

 spects most nearly related. In all the species of the latter genus 

 that he has examined he has found a portion of the filaments free ; 

 and he thinks the genus should be limited to those species in which 

 the stamina are only partially united. This would exclude S. odo- 

 ratissimum, Cav. (which is apparently the same as S. Narcissoides, 

 Lindl.) and S. flexuosum, Lindl., described as having entirely united 

 stamina, and further difi^ering from Sisyrinchium in having a long 

 infundibuliform corolla, with more distinct markings, and a very 



