4i4i4i THE NATUKAL HISTORY EEVIEW. 



Jpril 20th, 1865. 



The following papers were read : — " On Gripidea, a new genus of 

 Loasacese, with an account of some peculiarities in the structure of 

 the Seeds of that Family. By John Miers, Esq. 



2. " Cabul, its Mora and Vegetable Products, &c." I'rom com- 

 munications received from the E-ev. H. Jaeschke, of the Moravian 

 Mission. By J. E. T. Aitchison, M.D. 



Mai/ Uh, 1865. 



Mr. E. Milne Bedhead exhibited dried Specimens of Plants col- 

 lected in Palestine and the Desert of Sinai ; also Specimens of Anas- 

 tatica hierochuntica, living and in the dry state. The following papers 

 were read : — 1. " On two species of Gruttiferse." By Thomas Anderson, 

 M.D. — Among the many rare species cultivated in the Botanic 

 Grarden of Calcutta, which have escaped the devastation of the 

 Cyclone of the 5th of October last, there were stated to occur two 

 species of GuttiferaD of considerable interest. The first of these 

 Calysaccion siamense of Miquel (Mammea hirmannica, Anderson), 

 the author now described from living specimens, under the name of 

 Mammea siamensis. M. Teijsmann says that the Siamese make 

 necklaces of the flowers, and also offer them to the images of Boodh. 

 The second was a Qarcinia from the eastern coast of Africa, and 

 named G. Living stonei. The author stated that it was remark- 

 able on account of its very peculiar habit, and also, though a true 

 Garcinia, for its departure from one or two of the characters of the 

 genus. The plants were raised from seeds sent to Dr. Thomson by 

 Dr. Livingstone in 1859. This year one small tree has produced a 

 great profusion of pseudo-hermaphrodite flowers, and another has 

 produced a few flowers of the same character. This fruitless flowering 

 was said to occur among other species of GuttiferaD while in a young 

 state, or at least during the first years of flowering, fruit-producing 

 plants being those only that have arrived at full maturity. According 

 to Dr. Livingstone the natives about the Zambesi cat the fruits, which 

 are about the size of a walnut. 



2. "Descriptions of some new Genera and Species of Tropical 

 Leguminosse." By G. Bentham, Esq. 



