1854.] Linnean Society. 343 



two suspended, when four in pairs one above the other, and^(in an 

 early stage at least) nearly horizontal; when suspended amphitropal, 

 with the raphe dorsal and the foramen turned up nearly to the base 

 of the ovule, so as to be distinctly under the funiculus ; the style 

 thickened, more or less hollow below, and terminated above by a 

 broad peltate plate, forming the stigma ; the stigmatic surface con- 

 fined to five small elevations in the five angles of this plate, within 

 which are five cavities opening upwards ; and the stigmatic surfaces 

 apparently opposite to the cells of the ovary. He states the prin- 

 cipal points of structure which may be regarded as indicative of 

 affinity to be, first, the acicular woody fibre, in which Napoleona 

 agrees with Clusiaceee and Rhizophorece, particularly the former ; 

 secondly, the table-shaped stigma, which he states to be almost 

 peculiar to Clusiaceee and their allies, and this character, he thinks 

 (as well as the monadelphous extrorse stamina), separates Belvisiacea 

 from Myrtacece ; thirdly, the dorsal raphe (or at least the resupinate 

 position of the ovules), in which they agree with TernstroemiacecB and 

 BarringtoniacecB , where the ovules are few and suspended, but difi^er 

 from Rhizophorece, where the raphe is next the placenta. The 

 balance of affinities is therefore, in Mr. Clarke's opinion, towards 

 Clusiaceee and TernstroemiacecB, 



November 21st, 1854. 



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



Dr. IliiF, F.L.S., exhibited specimens of Baccharis genistelloides 

 and a species of Senecio from Peni, transmitted to a German com- 

 mercial house as pharmaceutical simples. 



At the request of the President, Mr. Brocas exhibited numerous 

 specimens of leaf skeletons, prepared in such a manner as to repre- 

 sent delineations of natural objects, portraits, &c. 



Read the conclusion of Mr. Miers's " Observations on the Struc- 

 ture of the Seed and peculiar form of the Embryo in the Clu- 

 siaceee," commenced on the 20th of June. 



The author proceeds to off'er some observations on the nature of 

 the external covering of the seed, which is considered by him to be 

 an arillus. In the Clusiece this is entire, without the smallest fissure. 



