LINNEA.M SOCIETY OF LONDON. 3 1 



and then turning in 1879 to his studies on Angiosperms and 

 Gymnosperms, followed since by many later papers, we have 

 a truly remarkable series of works on the scientific anatomy and 

 morphology of the higher plants. His important contributions to 

 physiology, such as those dealing with the ascent of water in trees 

 in 1891, only require mention ; he has been an embryologist as 

 well as an anatomist, and he has even touched on palteobotany. 

 It is, however, as a cytologist that Strasburger has probably won 

 the greatest distinction, as in this subject he is, on the botanical 

 side at least, facile princeps. His remarkable series of histological 

 memoirs from 1876 onwards, form the foundation and a very 

 large pai't of the superstructure of modern cytology. In close 

 connection with his cytological work on the nucleus and pi'oto- 

 plasm is his investigation of fertilization in plants, where he made 

 the fundamental discovery of the great importance of the fusion 

 of the male and female nuclei. There is no need to say more. 

 His influence on science has been wide-reaching, and his fame is 

 great. Naturally he has received many distinctions both in his 

 own country and here, where we know him as a Foreign Member of 

 the lioyal Society (1801) and of our own (1880), and as an 

 Honorary Doctor of Civil Law of Oxford. We in the Linuean 

 Society ofi"er him, through you, our homage, and trust that he may 

 value, as a testimony of our high appreciation, this latest honour, 

 the award of the Linuean Gold Medal. 



'• Sir Dietrich Brandis, I have great pleasure in asking you, his 

 countryman, and yourself a distinguished botanist, to transmit this 

 medal to Professor Strasburger.' 



Sir Dietrich Brandis having received the Medal, made a brief 

 verbal acknowledgment on behalf of the recipient. The following 

 letters refer to the award. 



Bonn, 12th May, 1905. 

 Dear Sir, 



I have received the news that the Council of the Linnean 

 Society of Loudon has conferred upon me the Gold Medal. The 

 honour thus bestowed upon me by this illustrious Society fills me 

 with pride. I thank the members most sincerely for this honour 

 as well as for the scientific help and encouragement I have on 

 many occasions received from my English colleagues. It was 

 above all the immortal Charles Darwin, of whom your nation may 

 well be proud, who in my youth filL^d me with enthusiasm for 

 scientific researches, and turned my studies in the direction I have 

 since followed. 



Most unfortunately my duties detain me here to such an extent 

 that it is impossible for me to be in London on May the 24th, and 

 receive the Gold Medal personally. Sir Dietrich Brandis, my 

 honoured friend, has kindly offered to do so in my stead. 



I am. Dear Sir, 

 To the General Secretary, Yours sincerely, 



of the Linnean Society of London, (Signed) E. StkaSBURGEE. 



B. Daydon Jackson, Esq. 



