Jan. 20, 1S4G.] Linnean Society. 279 



pauc/JIoras, termbiales clispositi, hreviter pedicellati, inconsp'icui. Calyx 

 parinis, carnosus. Petala majuscula. 

 Obs, Genus milli ordiiii arete affine, habitu PJnjtolaccce. 



January 20, 1846. 



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



Robert James Nicholl Streeton, Esq., AI.D., and Robert Marnock, 

 Esq., were elected Fellows. 



Read a memoir " On the Structure of the Ascidia and Stomata of 

 Dischidia Rafflesiana, Wall." By the late William Griffith, Esq., 

 F.L.S. &c. Communicated by R. H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. 



This paper bears date at Mergui, November 7th, 1834. In it the 

 author gives a detailed description of the arrangement, form and 

 structure of the ascidia of the species of Dischidia above-named, and 

 comes to the conclusion that they are modified lamince of leaves, in 

 proof of which he adduces : 1st, their similarity in texture, internal 

 structure, and structure of stomata with the limbs of the ordinary 

 leaves ; 2ndly, the sUght but constant tendency in the limb of the 

 leaves to assume an involute form ; 3rdly, the occurrence of an im- 

 perfectly transformed pitcher, in Vv'hich the body of the pitcher is 

 clearly referable to the limb of the leaf ; and 4thly, the general con- 

 struction of the petioles in Asclepiadece, which renders it more na- 

 tural to refer the ascidia to the limb of the leaf in that family. He 

 regards the inner surface of the pitcher as corresponding with the 

 upper surface of the leaves ; and is confirmed in this view by the 

 greater abundance and development of the stomata on those surfaces. 

 On the lower and outer surfaces the stomata are more or less imper- 

 fect ; but on the upper and inner they show a considerable degree of 

 complexity. They are particularly remarkable for the existence of 

 an external cellular bourrelet or thickening, much elevated above 

 the surface and of a whitish colour, giving rise to an appearance of 

 minute white dots, which are especially conspicuous on the purple 

 inner surface of the ascidia. They appear to have a very slight con- 

 nexion with the cuticle, from which they are easily detached, and are 

 not met with on old ascidia. Each bourrelet is composed of from 



