34 



and the other of an unknown animal, and of a vegeta- 

 ble. 



Mr. E. D. Brigham was elected a member. 

 Adjourned, 



T. B. Rec. Sec. pro. tern. 



August 4, 1841. 

 The President in the Chair. 



The President reported on three of the seven specimens 

 of wood from the South Sea Islands, presented by Mr. Cou- 

 thouy. 



The first is the " yellow wood" of New Holland, Oxleya Xan- 

 thoxyla, a tree often 100 feet high, and three in diameter. It has 

 been found useful in the Arts, though, from its recent discovery, 

 all its properties are not known. The second is erroneously called 

 the cherry, although it has no affinity to that family. It is the Ex- 

 ocarpus cupressiformis, a light wood resembling the common 

 cherry, and very abundant. The third is the Iron wood, which is 

 of greater specific gravity than any of the woods of North Ame- 

 rica. 



Mr. Teschcmachor reported on the plants from Kentucky, 

 presented by Dr. Jarvis. 



He exhibited the rarest and most interesting specimens, among 

 which were Stylipus vermis of Rafinesque, formerly Geum vernum. 

 Ilafmesque erected this into a new genus from the torus being pcdi- 

 cclled, not being aware that Geum rivale, an undoubted Geum, 

 has a similar character. 



2d. Schizandra coccinea^ the only representative of its family in 

 North America. 



3d. Aster Shorlii of Hooker, a new Aster, named in honor of 

 Dr. Short of Kentucky. 



4th. Buchnera Americana. A series of blunders has been made 

 in describing this plant, originating with Linna'us. He, by mis- 

 take, gave to Buchnera, the characters of Erinus of Persoon, and 

 IVilldenow added the true characters of Huchnera to his descrip- 

 tion, causing a woful confusion. Bentham detected the error and 

 described it anew. 



