fEOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 91 



Anthericem, marked by its polyphyllous perianth, non-bulbous root- 

 stock, capsular fruit, and articulated pedicels, is one of the largest 

 tribes of the Order, and includes between 200 or 300 species. It is 

 divided into two sub tribes — the Asphodels, with a perianth funnel- 

 shaped when fully expanded, and the true Anthericums, in which the 

 flower when open spreads like a star. Of the Asphodels the 

 principal genera are Asphodeliis, Asphodeline, and Eremums. These 

 belong either to the Mediterranean region or Central Asia. Of Ere- 

 murus the Russian explorations in Central Asia have lately discovered 

 several striking new species, which are now being introduced into 

 our gardens. Here belongs Xeronema from New Caledonia, with 

 bright red flowers and iris-like leaves, and several other small genera. 

 The classification of the true Anthei'icums has been involved in 

 great confusion, principally because the older-named specific types 

 were not fully described, and have afterwards been arranged out 

 under genera by authors who had only these incomplete descriptions 

 to guide them. Mr. Baker has been able, through the kindness of 

 the authorities of the Upsala Herbarium, to make a leisurely com- 

 parison of the types of Thunberg with the large mass of specimens 

 now preserved in the great London Herbaria. He considers it best 

 to maintain as a single genus Anthericum almost in the Linnean sense, 

 and to include therein Phalangium, Bulhinella, Trachyandra, and part 

 of C(Rsia and Chlorophytuin as defined by Kunth. As thus understood, 

 Anthericum is the most widely distributed of all the genera of Liliacece, 

 and in point of number of species is exceeded in the Order only by 

 Allkim and Asparagus. A large number of new species have been 

 gathered of late years in the northern tracts of Cape Colony and 

 Central Africa. Near to Anthericum comes Chlorophytum, with dis- 

 coid seeds, a genus of now about thirty species, almost confined to 

 the Tropical regions of the Old World. Of a series of genera with 

 bearded filaments, the principal representatives are Bulbine, Narthe- 

 ciuni, and Arthropodium. Narthecium has seeds just like those of a 

 Eush, and it is interesting as furnishing one of the best instances on 

 record of geographical "representation." It is confined to the 

 North Temperate zone, and there are four very closely allied species — 

 one in Europe, one in Japan, a third in California, and a fourth in the 

 Eastern United States. There are two monotypic genera of Anthericece 

 with syngenesious stamens — Echeandea in the Andes, and Hodgsoniola 

 in West Australia. The large genus Thysanotus, which has almost 

 sepaloid outer perianth segments and fimbriate inner ones, is almost 

 confined to Australia, ana is represented in Chili by the monotypic 

 Bothricea. There are also in Australia two considerable genera with 

 septicidal capsules, Tricoryne and Cassia, the latter found lately in 

 Tropical Africa by Captain Grant and Dr. Kirk. — " Botanical notes 

 from Darjeeling to Tongie," by C. B. Clarke. — " On Edgaria, a new 

 genus of Ouciirhitacece,'' by the same. 



Bee. 16tk, 1875. — G. J. Allman, F.R.S., President, in the chair. 

 The following botanical papers were read: — "Notes on the plants 

 collected and observed at the Admiralty Islands, March 3-10, 1875," 

 by H. N. Moseley. — " Supplement to the enumeration of the Fungi of 

 Ceylon," by the Hev. M. J. Berkeley and C. E. Broome. There are 

 two new genera described, Endocalyx and Actiyiiceps, possibly inter- 



