BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
Linnean Society, Feb. 6th, 1849. 
Edward Forster, Esq.,* Vice-President, F.R.S., in the Chair. 
A series of specimens of the Natural Order Oycadez was exhibited, 
and a portion of them presented to the Society, by James Yates, Esq., 
F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. 
In is catalogue of these specimens the author followed the arrange- 
ment and adopted the names of Lehmann, Miquel, and Brongniart. 
The specimens were accompanied by drawings, and included leaves and 
cones, both male and female, of the following species, viz.: Oycas 
revoluta, Macrozamia spiralis, Encephalartus cycadifolius, E. Lehmanni, 
E. brachyphyllus, E. Altensteinii, E. Caffer, E. horridus, E. nanus, 
Zamia muricata, Z. furfuracea e Z. integrifolia (n. 2. MUN (?), and 
Ceratozamia Mexicana. In the course o communication, Mr 
Yates noticed the laste which me lately flowered in England, and 
gave a more detailed description of a female E. Cafer, which lately 
produced a large cone at Chatsworth, and from which he was enabled 
to obtain casts, exhibiting the flower-bud T in a very advanced state, and 
a single scale of the cone with the fruit upon it in a mature state. 
Observations were also made upon the following points: the import- 
ance of the vernation in distinguishing both genera and species, the 
changes to be observed in the leaves of the same plant at different ages, 
the longevity of the leaves; their articulation, the comparative length 
of time required by male and female flowers in coming to maturity; 
the way in which the pollen is brought into contact with the sum- 
mits of the seeds ; and the want of agreement among botanists in the 
names given to the genera and species. 
* [t is with much regret that we have to announce the sudden death, at the age — 
: 84, of this much esteemed member of the Linnzean Society, whose strength and 
minent zeal for its interests meint him to attend the evening meetings with — 
scasotcaliy to the close of his lif : 
+ An accurate model of this Lisa. and a most beautifully executed one, of — 
the scale and fruit, have been liberally presented by Mr. Yates to the Museum of the f. 
Royal Gardens of Kew. 
