LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 57 



Corifplia data iu the Georgetown Botanic Gardens, of similar age 

 and planting, were photographed : one had followed the normal 

 course, flowered, fruited, and died ; the other, instead of flowering, 

 had developed a secondary crown of leaves." (Proc. Linn. See. 

 1902-03, p. 41.) 



The photographs now shown were in continuation of this. 

 Mr. AVaby writes: — "I am able now to give you the sequel to 

 the accouut of the Corypha data ^hich produced the abnormal 

 growth, and of which 1 sent you a photograph in the first stage. 

 i enclose two other photographs of two further stages ^\•hich I 

 promised you last May, and the details which I have gathered on 

 felling the palm. It was cut down on the 3rd of April, It was 

 impossible to obtain these details before cutting it down on 

 account of its great height. Its various dimensions are : — 

 Height over all 68 feet. 

 Diameter at base 3 feet fi inches. 

 „ ,, middle 2 „ 3 ,, 

 ,, ,, top 1 foot 10 inches, this at the 

 base of the secondary grow th. 



" The secondary growth occupied a space of 4 feet. Height of 

 the spadix from the secondary growth, 20 feet ; 5 feet of this 

 being bare stem — the remaining 15 feet crowded Avith huge 

 branches, which numbered 29. 



" The length of the lower branches was 9 feet G inches. All 

 leaves of the original stem had fallen long since, lea\ing it bare 

 for 44 feet. The leaves of the secondary growth remaining on, 

 quite dry. 



'• In the 4 feet length of the secondary growth, arranged in 

 3 spirals, were 25 flowering branches springing from the axils of 

 the leaves, each one a separate spadix, with numerous spathes 

 attached at the base. Only 3 were perfect ; these were 12 feet 

 long, having a few small branches at the ends bearing fruit, the 

 others wqvq abortive, ranging from 2 to G feet in length, without 

 branches. The crop of fruit \\'eighed 1100 lbs. and numbered 

 over 51,000. 



" The plant was just 25 years old. In over 30 years tropical 

 experience I have seen seven of these giants go through their life's 

 course, besides two of the ' Talipot,' and this is the only one which 

 has shown anything out of the ordinary course," 



Mr. C. B. Clarke remarked that though this palm grew in the 

 Calcutta Botanic Garden, he had never noticed this abnormal 

 behaviour, though branching in palms occurred in many species. 



The General Secretary exhibited sundry rarities from the books 

 and manuscripts of Linnaeus, especially three which had been lost 

 sight of owing to their having been placed amongst the manu- 

 scripts which remained unbound. Each exhibit was explained, 

 with the circumstances attending its production, and its special 

 interest indicated. 



The President remarked that in spite of what had been done in 



