'iO THE .lOURNAL UF JiUTANY 



more or less witli tlie size of the anterior lip of the corolla. The 

 Horal anatomy of Senecio vulgaris was described in detail. A single 

 bundle leaves the receptacle and divides into one ovarial and ten 

 })eripheral strands at the " lower distributive centre." The peripheral 

 strands undergo anastomosis at the "' upper distributive centre," where 

 the two stylar and live peri})heral bundles are given off. These upper 

 perij)heral bundles divide tangentially and the staminal strands pass 

 out into tlie Hlaments. The corolla bundles which occupy the line of 

 junction of tlie petals divide radially at the top of the tube, and the 

 halves anastomose along the edges of the corolla-lobes. The cells 

 lining the stylar canal become lignified and form two pseudo-vascular 

 strands on the lateral walls of the ovary. The corolla in the Cichorieie 

 has a very constant type of vascular supply, similar to Senecio^ but 

 with the ]3osterior upper peripheral bundle dividing into three to 

 supply the edges of the ligule and the posterior stamen. Taraxacum 

 ojficinale is described in detail. The ray-florets of Calendula 

 officinalis and Tussilaqo Farfara show a very simple type of 

 anatomy. The styles .of the disc-florets in T. Farfara have four 

 conducting strands. The thickened part of the style in Arctolis 

 aspera also shows four strands. In both cases the style is more or 

 less a mechanical pollen-presenter. The peculiar homogeneousness 

 within itself of the Cichoriea? and its isolation from the rest of the 

 C(jm))osit« is extended to the floral anatomy. 



Mr. Small then gave a demonstration of " Wind dispersal 

 Apparatus." The purpose of the apparatus is to determine the exact 

 velocity of the wind required to blow the fruits of the Compositie 

 a sutticient distance to secure proper dispersal. The apparatus con- 

 sists of an electric fan (the speed of which can be varied), a long, 

 wide glass tube, and an anemometer. The anemometer consists of 

 a beam with a disc attached, upon which the wind impinges, and a 

 scale-pan slung over a pulley, the whole forming a mechanical couple. 

 The pressure is measured by this instrument and converted into miles 

 per hour. The tube is moved away from the fan until the fruits are 

 no longer blown right through ; the wind-pressure at this j)oint is 

 taken as the miniyunn required for the dispersal of the fruit. In this 

 way it lias been found that the following minimum winds are necessar}' 

 for the dis)>ersal of the fruits of the species named below: — 



Senecio ruhjaris — 1'6 m.}).h. = a light air. 



Senecio vulgaris var. radiafus erecfus — 1-80 m.p.h = a light breeze. 



Ursinia speciosa — 2*6 to 2-94 m.p.h.=a light to gentle breeze. 



Taraxacum ojlicinale — lo m.)j.h.=a light air. 



Tussilayo Farfara — '62 to (So m.p.h. = less than a light air. 



Centaurea imperialis — 7'7 m.p.h.=a moderate breeze. 



Leontopodium alpinum — 4-78 m.p.h. = a gentle breeze. 

 To the .same meeting, Mr. T. A. Dymes contributed "A Note 

 on the Seed of Iris Fseudacorus Linn." There are two forms of 

 •seed in each capsule:- flat seeds in the straight portion and 

 more or less rounded seeds at the curved top and bottom of 

 the capsule. Tlie seeds dro)) or are blown from the placenta 

 after the cajisule dehisces. They lie over until the late spring. 

 Those that fall on to the nmd and remain there apj)ear to 

 perish from decay. The loose light testa enables the seeds to float 



