PliOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 249 



Dr. Bos well Syme, tlie discoverer, and Prof. Babington to be Z. pohj- 

 carpa of Nolte. The following papers were read : — *' On the Barring- 

 toniacecB,^'' by J. Miers. This is a Monograph of the group which is con- 

 sidej-edby the author to form a well-marked IS'atural Order. — '* OnEairy 

 Rings," by Dr. Grilbert. These are usually destroyed by manures, 

 but the author had observed in the experimental plots at Rothamsted 

 that they occur especially on those plots treated with superphosphate, 

 and poorest in nitrogen. Tungi, like most Leguminosae, contain large 

 quantities of this element in their composition, and yet, like them, 

 they seem to be by no means benefited by nitrogenous manures. Whence, 

 then, do the Fungi obtain their nitrogen ? Prom the air, or from 

 the soil, or from other plants as parasites ? — *' On a Species oilli'bisciis,''^ 

 by Prof. Oliver. This plant was collected by Dr. Kirk in E. 

 Tropical Africa, and the author suggested it to be the wild form 

 of H. jRosa-sinensis, only known in its cultivated state in China 

 and India ; the petals are laciniate. Dr. Masters thought the specimen 

 more likely to be an accidental monstrosity. 



June 17th. — Dr. Allman, President, in the chair. Dr. Alexander 

 Prior exhibited specimens oi Mysrine Urvillei^ DC. (IT. undulata, A. 

 Cunn.), an evergreen shrub, hardy in his garden in Somersetshire. 

 Mr. J. E Howard exhibited specimens of a hybrid Cinchona (var. 

 anglica), between C. Calisaya, male parent, and C. succirubra, female. 

 It is a comparatively useless plant medicinally. The following papers 

 were read : — '* On the Affinities and Properties of the Aristolochiacece " 

 by Mr. Clark. — " Onthe Production of Ovules on the Stamens of Whit- 

 iieldia^'' by S. le Marchant Moore. The specimens were from Kew 

 Gardens, and presented several modifications of pistillody of the 

 stamens. 



Botanical Societf of Edinburgh, May 13th. — Sir Robert Chris- 

 tison, Bart., in the chair. The following communications were read : — 

 *' On the Rare Lichens of Glencroe, Argyllshire." By the Rev. Hugh 

 Macmillan. During the autumn of 1874 Dr. Macmillan collected in 

 Glencroe several lichens which are interesting for their rarity in 

 Britain. These include Parmelia Imvigata, P. Millaniana, P. Mougeotii, 

 and P. diatrypa^ specimens of which the author presented to the Uni- 

 versity Herbarium. — '* Remarks on Specimens ot Pecopteris 2)olypodioides 

 found by J. W. Badger in the Marly Oolite at Colleyweston, near 

 Stamford." By C. W. Peach.—'* On the Rarer Plants of the Province 

 of Ontario." Part I. By Profs. John Gibson and John Macoun, 

 Albert College, Belleville. This part of the paper includes the phane- 

 rogamous plants found in the province of Ontario, from Ranunculacem 

 to Composite. A short description is given of each species, and notes 

 regarding its geographical distribution. — ** Report on the Open Air 

 Vegetation at the Royal Botanic Garden." By James M'^ab. — 

 Prof. Balfour exhibited specimens of a substance which had been 

 lately presented to the Museum at the Royal Botanic Garden, pro- 

 cured from two species of seaweed [Plocaria Candida and Gelidium cor- 

 neum) in China and Japan. It is used as food in place of isinglass. 

 Payen notices it in the " Repertoire de Pharmacie," under the name 

 Gelose. Gelidium corneuni, treated successively without heat, by dilute 

 acetic and hydrochloric acids, water, weak solution of ammonia, and 

 then with abundant washing, lost 53 percent, of its weight by the dis- 



