PilOCEEDINGS OF SOClisTIES. 319 



in the length of the style and stamens. The two kmds of dimorphism 

 now recorded by the author are as follows : — • 1. Where the point 

 of insertion of the stamens is altered, being in (a) high above 

 the middle of the corolla -tube, in (b) at the very base of the 

 corolla-tube, that is subepigynous instead of epicorolline. 2. 

 Where there are two kinds of fruit, viz., (a) a large fruit corre- 

 sponding to a sessile flower, and (h) a small fruit corresponding 

 to a pedunculated flower. As an example of that under 

 1, Adenosacme lom/ifolia, a shrub common in Sikkim and Khasia, 

 is given ; and of 2, liandia idiginosa, a small tree common in 

 the swamps of Bengal. Most botanists have referred examples of 

 the same species to different genera ; hence some caution will 

 hereafter be necessary ni the discrimination and axjportioning of 

 characters to the species and genera of the PachiacecB. — ' The 

 StapelicB of Thunberg's Herbarium,' by N. E. Brown. Through 

 the courtesy of Dr. Th. Fries, of the Upsala University, the 

 authorities at Kew have had the advantage of the loan of portions 

 of Thunberg's herbarium, and Mr. Brown has examined the plants 

 placed under the genus Stapelia by Thunberg. The species are 

 eleven in number, of which only five belong to the genus as now 

 understood. The other six belong to five different genera, two of 

 which are now characterized for the first time, viz., Trichocaulon 

 and Diplocijatha. Mr. Brown likewise gives descriptions of the 

 curious plants Sarcocodon speciosum, from Somali-land, and Huer- 

 niopsis decipiens, from South Africa. 



The French Association foji the Advancement of the Sciences 

 met at Paris during the week commencing August 23rd. The 

 Botanical Section was presided over by Prof. Baillon, Prof, de 

 Lanessan being Secretary. The following papers were read : — 

 M. Merget, ' On the part played by the stomata in the phenomena 

 of inhalation and exhalation ' ; Dutailly, ' On intramedullary forma- 

 tions in the Plantaginece ' ; Abbe Eoucliy, ' On the variability of 

 species under the influence of culture ' ; Baillon, ' On the develop- 

 ment of the ovular integuments'; Miquel, 'On the germs in the 

 atmosphere' ; De Seynes, ' On the couidial apparatus of Pohjporus 

 sidphureus' ; E. Mer, * Some examples to illustrate antagonism of 

 the influences exercised by heredity and surroundings ' ; Millardet, 

 'Alterations produced by the I^hylloxcm on the roots of the Vine ' ; 

 De Lanessan, ' Organogeny of the inflorescence and female flower 

 of the Hop'; E. Tison, 'Structure of the bark of Ahtonia con- 

 stricta' ; Baillon, 'On Xcgria' ; Dutailly, 'Some peculiarities of 

 structure in Prassica'; E. Tison, 'Anatomical conditions of the 

 dehiscence of the capsule in Henbane' ; C. Blondeau, 'On respi- 

 ration and heat in plants'; E. Mussat, 'On some plants of the 

 group of Inulem' ; Baillon, 'On the androecium of Cucurhitaceo)'; 

 D. Corenwinder, ' On the influence of the leaves in the production 

 of sugar in the Beet ' ; Sirodot, ' On the development of Batracho- 

 spermum'; Poisson, 'On the colouration of the seeds of Maize' ; 



