30 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



those which hardly differ from the perfect open flowers in any 

 other respect than the partial or entire suppression of the corolla, 

 and the closing of the calyx (= homocleistogaunc) ; and second, those 

 in which there is a distinct modification of one or more parts of 

 the flower, to aid in the process of self-fertihzation (=^hetero- 

 cleistogamic). There is, however, no sharp line of demarcation, 

 but iiitermediate forms occur. He is partly disposed to regard 

 these two kinds as having arisen in different ways, one by degra- 

 dation, the other by a rudimentary form of the organ. Another 

 curious pomt is the large number of organs which have been 

 correlatively modified in the extreme Cleistogamic flowers. 

 Extremely interesting phenomena occur in the mode of emission 

 of the pollen tubes, these travelling a considerable distance 

 through the ak in a straight line from the anther, vertically 

 upwards in the case of Oxalis, horizontally in others, while 

 according to Mohl they creep along the surface, and even back of 

 the ovary in Viola canina. None wander with uncertainty, but 

 seem guided by an unseen agency in the reqim-ed direction. This 

 seems the more remarkable, for when not in proximity to the 

 stigma the pollen grains protrude their tubes in all possible 

 directions. — " On the Absorption of Dew" and Eain by the green 

 parts of Plants," by the Eev. G. Henslow. The first part of this 

 communication consists of a resume of the opinions of Vegetable 

 Physiologists, from Hales (1781) to the present day, in which it 

 appears that earlier experimenters were fully persuaded that leaves 

 could and did absorb dew" and rain. The chief objector was 

 Duchartre, who in 1857 reversed this \dew. The author combats, 

 first, his objection to cut leaves and shoots being used for experi- 

 ments, proving that the natural functions do proceed identically as 

 when attached to growing plants. He then describes Dnchartre's 

 experiments, and shows that while the French savant was right in 

 concluding that dew was not absorbed by saturated tissues at 

 night, yet on the contrary, according to Mr. Henslow's investiga- 

 tions, absorx^tion takes place soon after the sun has risen, when 

 transiDiration recommences, and an indraught is caused by water 

 whenever lingering on the leaves. Mr. Henslow further corroborates 

 Boussingault's views, that when leaves are purposely or naturally 

 killed by excessive drought, then they do absorb water as dew or 

 rain, a fact x^roved by the balance and otherwise. It results then, 

 that in ox)position to the current doctrine taught by science, that 

 gardeners x)ractically are right, that the green ^Darts of plants can 

 and do absorb moisture" on their surfaces. 



Nov. 21. — Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.K.S., Vice-President, in the 

 chaii'. — Mr. Thomas Davidson, F.E.S., Brighton, and Mr. Frederick 

 James Faraday, Manchester, were elected Fellows of the Society. — 

 Dr. W. P. Kesteven exhibited specimens of the so-called " Tete 

 Awjlais'' [Mt'locactxis communis) from Vieuxfort St. Lucia. — There 

 were also exhibited roots, tendrils and tubers, in different stages of 

 growth, of Vitis f/owjijlodes and V. cuspidata, in illustration of the 

 paper immediately read, viz., " On Branch-tubers and Tendi'ils of 

 Vitis ijotujijlodes,'" by Mr. J. Irwin Lynch. Subterranean tubers are 



