1842.] Linnean Society. 129 



vered with a very adhesive varnish. Where the fossil-wood was 

 quite sound, and the cement (j^robably of Canada Balsam) did not 

 project beyond its edges, very little of the varnish was deposited ; 

 but where the fossil-wood was cracked or unsound, or where the ce- 

 ment projected beyond its edges, it was found in considerable quan- 

 tity ; and on the specimens not cemented to glass, it was deposited 

 chiefly in the pores or cracks which had imbibed some of the oil used 

 in polishing the surface. The cabinet was quite new when the spe- 

 cimens were placed in it, and Mr. Solly supposes that the air con- 

 tained in the drawers had become loaded with vapour from the Ce- 

 dar-wood, which coming into contact with oil or resin combined with 

 it to produce a varnish. 



Read a paper " On Edgeicorthia, a new genus of Plants of the 

 Order Myrsinece." By Hugh Falconer, M.D., Superintendent of the 

 Hon. E. I. C.'s Botanic Garden at Saharunpore, communicated by 

 J. F. Royle, M.D., F.L.S., &c. 



Dr. Falconer refers this new genus to the Tribe Theophrastece, and 

 characterizes it as follows : — 



Edgeworthia. 



Calyx 5-pavtitus; laciniis obtusis imbricatis. Co/'o//a hypogyna, siibcam- 

 panulata ; tubo brevi crasso, intus squamis 5 adnatis acuminatis, cum 

 limbi 5-partiti lobis acutis (in cestivatione contorto-imbricatis) alter- 

 nantibus, instructo. Stamina b, corollas tubo iiiserta, ejus denique la- 

 ciniis opposita, exserta ; filamenta subulata, basi cum squamis conflu- 

 entia ; antberae extrors.ne, versatiles, Joculis longitudinaHter debiscen- 

 tibus. Ovarium 1 -loculare ; placenta basilaris, parva ; ovula pauca, 

 erecta, anatropa. Stylus elongatus, etiam in alabastro exsertus ; stigma 

 minutum, indivisum. Drupa mono- (raio di-) sperma. Semen pelta- 

 tum, hilo lato excavato umbilicatum ; testa ossea. Embryo intra albu- 

 men (cartilaginemn) ruminatum excentricus, transverse arcuatus ; ra- 

 dicula infera. — Arbuscula sempervirens ; foliis alternis exsfipulatis, 

 solitariis v. fasciculatis, ellipticis, integerrimis, coriaceis, marginatis ; 

 ramis spinescentibiis; pedicellis hracieolatis ; ^ov\h\x% parvis subseasilibus 

 in capitula axillaria subumbellata dense coacervatis, chloroleucis ; drupl 

 ednli dulci. 



Obs. Genus inter Theophrasteas,JacqninicBet 7'/^eo/J/jfaste juxta charac- 

 teres tribuales affine, sed ab utroque et a sociis albumine ruminato, 

 necnon inflovescentia distinctum. Notatu dignissimum, stylum etiara 

 in alabastro exsertum ! 



Edgeworthia biixifoUa. 



Hab. in collibus aridis Provinciarum Taxilae et Peucelaotis in Bactria In- 

 feriore ; passim obvenit prope Peshawur, Cohaut et Attock, indigenis 



No. XV. — Proceedings of the Linnean Societt. 



