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` BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
Botanical Society, March 2nd, 1849. 
John Reynolds, Esq., Treasurer, in the Chair. 
A Paper was read from Mr. A. Henfrey, containing some remarks 
on the ** Discrimination of Species." While estimating highly the value 
of minute enquiry into the conditions presented by plants, the author 
could not overlook the inconveniences that arise from hastily giving a 
specific value to peculiar forms, All the deductions of philosophical 
Botany depend upon the fixity of Species, as the science of numbers 
does on the definite nature of units. If we admit transitions, we can 
only define a Species, as a particular abstract form, more or less 
completely realized in nature under peculiar conditions which we do 
not yet understand ; but if, as is usually the case, we admit the fixity 
of Species, we are bound to exercise sufficient care in our observations 
to avoid raising accidental variations to this rank. In reference to 
Mr. Jordan’s views it was observed, that he also regards the Species 
as an absolute, and not an abstract form, but on this ground calls 
every tolerably constant variety a Species. 
. Henfrey considered that an important point was overlooked as 
to the nature of varieties. He regarded them all as abnormal condi- 
tions, depending upon the morphological and physiological relations of 
the different organs. Accordingly he would take that as a true ex- 
ample of a Species in the Phanerogamia in which the seeds (the highest 
product) were most perfectly and abundantly produced in a generally 
healthy condition of the whole plant; and from such examples alone, 
where any doubt existed, should specific characters be drawn. In 
cultivation, a most important test in doubtful cases, the plants ought 
to be exposed to many different kinds of condition ; otherwise a variety 
or abnormal form might be continued for a time by the very same 
influences which first produced it; while the varied conditions would 
afford the best means of judging of the relative constancy of characters 
afforded by the different organs of the plant. 
PrAcaBA; Fibre and fruit of the COQUILLA Nut, ATTALEA FUNI- 
FERA, Mart. Tas. IV. 
It is one object of the Museum of the Royal Gardens of Kew, 
VOL. I. R 
