1842.] Linnean Society. 155 



drupes are sometimes produced on a single spadix. It sometimes 

 happens that the fecundation is imperfect, in which case the ovary 

 expands and lengthens, but does not assume the usual form, and at 

 the end of two or three years it drops off; but seven or eight years 

 are required for the full maturing of the nut. This fact Mr. Clark 

 states to have been ascertained on one of the female Lodoiceas planted 

 at Mahe, which had flowered for several years without producing 

 fruit, owing to the absence of a male plant. A male flower was pro- 

 cured from an estate a few miles distant and suspended in the tree, 

 and about two months afterwards one of the buds expanded and 

 finally arrived at maturity. The experiment was made in 1833, and 

 the fruit fell at the latter end of 1841. 



November 1. 



R. Brown, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



Mr. Joseph Henderson and Mr. Thomas Shearman Ralph were 

 elected Associates. 



J. E. Bicheno, Esq., F.L.S., late Secretary of the Society, pre- 

 sented his portrait by Mr. Eddis, and the best thanks of the Society 

 were ordered to be returned to Mr. Bicheno for his very acceptable 

 present. 



Jonathan Pereira, M.D., F.L.S,, presented specimens of the dif- 

 ferent varieties of Ceylon, Malabar and Java Cardamoms, &c. 



Prof. Owen, F.L.S., exhibited a specimen of the animal of the 

 Pearly Nautilus, with its shell, brought from Amboyna by Captain 

 Belcher, R.N., C.B. 



Read " A Notice of the African Grain called Fundi or Fundungi." 

 By Robert Clarke, Esq., Senior Assistant Surgeon to the Colony of 

 Sierra Leone. Communicated by Jacob Bell, Esq., F.L.S. 



This Lilliputian grain, which is described by Mr. Clarke as being 

 about the size of mignonette-seed, is stated to be cultivated in the 



