1847.] Linnean Society. 321 



point out its affinity both in habit and structure to Gastrodia, R. Br„ 

 and to Epiphanes Javanica, Bl., from both which, however, it is suf- 

 ficiently distinct in the cohesiA of the labellar segment with the 

 tube of the perianthium. It is the only example, so far as Dr. Fal- 

 coner is aware, hitherto ascertained in the order, of the union of 

 all the divisions of both whorls of the floral envelope into a mono- 

 phyllous perianthium. Its parasitism is of a peculiar kind ; the tu- 

 berous rhizoma emits no root-fibres by which to attach itself to other 

 plants, but is itself matted over by their slender rootlets which ra- 

 mify upon it in every direction slightly imbedded in its surface, to 

 which they adhere with great tenacity, and especially to the scarious 

 margins of the abortive sheath annuli. This pecuHarity was ob- 

 served in numerous instances, but other cases occurred in which the 

 surface of the tubers presented no such appearance. 



February 16. 



The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. 



William Baird, Esq., M.D., and George Newport, Esq., were 

 elected Fellows. 



Read an extract from a letter addressed by Captain Sir E. Home, 

 Bart., R.N., to R. Brown, Esq., V.P.L.S., giving an account of the 

 measurement of some of the largest of the New Zealand and Norfolk 

 Island Pines. With reference to the former Sir E. Home quotes from 

 the Journal of Mr. Saddler, Master R.N., who was sent to New Zea- 

 land in 1833-4 in command of the Bufi^alo Store-ship to procure spars 

 for the Navy. The tree which he describes was in a forest near 

 Wangaroa, some miles north of the Bay of Islands. Mr. Saddler 

 says, " On 16th (May 1834) I went to examine a Kauri tree [Dam- 

 mara australis, Lamb.] which Mr. Betts the purveyor in his search 

 through the forest had discovered a few days previous ; it is situated 

 about two miles from the river on the steep bank of a ravine. It 

 appeared perfectly sound and healthy, and measured forty-three feet 

 nine inches in circumference, and sixty feet high without a branch. 

 Its head then spread out into forty-one principal branches, some of 

 which were four feet through. It is more than double the size of 

 any tree I have before seen in this country." Sir E. Home adds. 



No. XXXII. — Proceedings of the Linnean Society. 



