LIXXE.VJf SOCIETY OF LOXDOX. 5 



December 18th, 1913. 

 Prof. E. B. PorLTOX, F.E.S., President, in tlie Chair. 



Tlie ^Minutes of tlie General Electing of the 4th December, 

 19J3, were read and confirmed. 



-Nfr. John A\'i!liam Haigh Johnson, B.Sc, was admitted a 

 Fellow. 



The names of Mr. James I.omax and ^Mr. Eichard Francis 

 Towndrow were subuiiLted to a ballot for tlie vacant Botanical 

 Associatesliip. The ballot havinjy been closed, the President 

 nominated Dr. G. B. J^ougstaff, Dr. R. 11. Gates, and Mr. E. G. 

 Baker, scrutineers ; these iiaving examined the Ballot-papers and 

 cast up the votes, reported to the President, who thereupon 

 declared that a majoi-ity of votes had been given in favour of 

 Mr. Lomax, but short of the requisite two-thirds majority. 



The name of Mr. James Lomax \vas then submitted to a second 

 ballot, and the President having counted the votes declared 

 Mr. Lomax to be duly elected an Associate. 



Dr. Otto Staff, F.E.S., Sec.L.S., then showed and commented 

 on a ball of raw rubber, which had been picked up on the seashore 

 of St. Helens, Isle of "Wight. The long exposure to sea-water 

 had altered the aspect of the ball to such an extent, that the true 

 nature of the objcjt was discernible with difticulty. 



Mr. JoHX Parkix, M.A., F.L.S., then gave a summary of his 

 paper on "The Evolution of the Inflorescence.'" He slated that 

 the evolution of all types of inflorescences is to be traced from 

 the solitary terminal flower. 



The first cluster to arise is a cymose group of three flowers 

 (a simple dichasium). This comes about through the pushing-out 

 of floral shoots from the leaf-axils just below the terminal flower. 



Two somewhat opposing tendencies now reveal themselves : — 



(i.) Either the secondary floral shoots may branch repeatedly, 

 giving rise to the compound or continuous dichasium. 

 From this sympodial cymes etc. can be derived. 



(ii.) Or the number of these secondary shoots may be increased. 

 This eventually leads to the formation of true racemose 

 inflorescences. 



Solitary axillaiy flowers are shown to arise in three different 

 ways, and are all capable of being derived from the solitary 

 terminal flower. 



Finally, attention is drawn to a little-recognised form of 

 flower-cluster, which is characterised by the main axis, after 

 emitting flowers laterally, continuing its grouth vegetatively. 



