,2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



The last paper was by Mr. Henry N. Eidlet, E.E.S., F.L.S., 

 ■ on a collection of plants from Mount Menuang G-asing, Selangor, 

 made by Mr. C. B. Kloss in February 1912. One hundred and 

 forty-three species were collected, of which 14 were unde- 

 scribed : of these the most noteworthy were what is probably the 

 biggest species of the large genus Oheronia, a remarkable species 

 of Blastus, and a new species of Balanophora. 



Dr. A. B. Eendle and Mr. H. N. Dixon discussed certani points, 

 and the author replied. 



November 21st, 1912. 



Prof. E. B. PoULTON, P.E.S,, President, in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the General Meeting of the 7th November, 

 1912, were read and confirmed. 



Mr. Frank Arthur Stockdale, B.A. (Cantab.), Avas admitted a 

 Fellow. 



Mr. John Davidson was proposed as a Fellow. 



Mr. Ernest John Bickford, Mr. Thomas Ford Chipp, B.Sc. 

 '(Lond.), Mr. Alfred Eugene Craven, Mr. Nevin Harkness Foster, 

 M.E.I.A., M.B.O.U., Mr. William Norman Sands, and Mr. Francis 

 .James Stayuer, were elected Fellows. 



Dr. A. B. Eendle, F.E.S., F.L.S., exhibited specimens, and 

 showed a series of lantern-slides, illustrating Mr. P. Amaury 

 Talbot's collection of plants from Southern Nigeria. 



Dr. Stapf, F.E.S., Sec.L.S., Mr. E. Gr. Baker, and Dr.Lambourn 

 ■(visitor) contributed further remarks. 



The Eev. George Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., then gave the sub- 

 stance of his paper, " On Vegetable Mechanics," as follows : — 



The object of this paper is to show that plants respond to 

 gravity, strains, and stresses, in order to resist them and so secure 

 stability. Keruer thought that the stems of herbs and the trunks 

 ■ of trees were constructed on a combined system of girders ; but if 

 a tree has' a heavy mass of foliage borne at the summit of a tall 

 cylindrical stem (as of Mahogauj'^), or even a short one (Fagus 

 itumphii), buttresses are often formed by the roots, which enable 

 the tree to keep the centre of gravity over an extended base. 



If the stem be hollow, diaphragms are introduced to render 

 it secure. These are in some cases cup-shaped as in East Indian 

 Bamboos, thereby securing a greater " pull " against lateral 

 stress. 



In tropical lianes, various mechanical contrivances secure 

 -strength with elasticity. In Bauhinia there are cup-shaped. 



