284 Linnean Society. [Feb. 21, 



C. holosericea, Fresen. in Flora 1839, p. 54. 



C. sethiopica, Guib. m Hist. d. Drogues, 3 ed. iii. p. 219. 



C. Scliimperi, Steudel, Nomencl. Bot. ed. 2. 



C. cana, Wender (1837) m Flora 1841, p. 355. 



Frutex habitat in Arabia et Nubia, foliolis inter folia Sennae Meccensis 

 (Yemen) ab auctore detecta et a clarr. Bove et Schimper in Arabia 

 (Dschedda) et a cl. Darnaud in Valle Dumrich (Nubise) coUecta. 



Sennae de Mecca et rarivis Alexandrinae in commercio admixta. 



February 21. 

 Thomas Bell, Esq., President, in the Chair. 

 Mr. Joseph Robson was elected an Associate. 



Read a " Note on the genus Ancistrocladus of Wallich." By 

 G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq., Superintendent of the Botanic Garden of 

 Peradenia, Ceylon. Communicated by J. D. Hooker, Esq., M.D., 

 F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. 



The author refers to the various positions which different authors, 

 relying on the circumstance of the fruit of Ancistrocladus being sur- 

 rounded by the enlarged segments of the calyx, have assigned to 

 that genus, which has been successively placed in Combretacece, 

 Malpighiacece, and Dipterocarpece ; from all of which, however, it 

 differs by its seeds being albuminous. An examination of the 

 flowers and fruit in various stages of development has induced him 

 to conclude that it will associate better with Symplocece, with which 

 it agrees in its undivided exstipulate leaves, its character of inflo- 

 rescence, imbricate calyx and corolla, persistent calyx, stamens ad- 

 hering to the base of the corolla, inferior ovary, albuminous seeds 

 and cylindrical embryo ; but from which it differs in its scandent 

 habit, its calycine segments becoming enlarged, its solitary erect 

 ovule, and the peculiar structure of its albumen. He notices a 

 slight affinity to Myristicea and Annonacea, its young ovule calHng 

 to mind that of Myristica, and the embryo not being very dissimilar ; 

 while the scandent habit and uncinate ramuli give it a considerable 

 resemblance to Artabotrys. The following generic character has 

 been drawn up from fresh specimens of Ancistrocarpus Vahlii, Am., 



