104 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
and the box, with its contents, was replaced under the tree, where 
it now remains. 
A large specimen of a fossil tree of the coal formation, presented 
by the late Mr. Matthew Montgomerie of Kelvinside, was also 
inspected. 
Several timber trees were observed in the Gardens, including 
oak, birch, beech, hornbeam, and a fine specimen of the weeping 
ash (Fraxinus excelsior pendula) presented to the institution about 
seventy years ago by Mr. Robert Austin, nurseryman, Glasgow. 
The attention of the party was directed to many interesting 
exotics which are successfully cultivated in the grounds or plant- 
houses. These included Grevillea rosmarinifolia, remarkable for 
its apetalous flowers; Leptospermum bullatum, a pretty myrtaceous 
plant, and a native of Australia; Prostanthera lasianthos, a free- 
flowering shrubby labiate ; and Acacia melanoxylon, with curious 
leaf-like phyllodes and true leaves, the former being distinguishable 
by having their edges placed in a vertical direction. A result of 
the singular position of these organs is that trees possessing them 
afford but little shade, and do not intercept the light to such an 
extent as is the case with ordinary foliage. Another exotic of 
considerable botanical interest is the Japanese maiden-hair tree 
(Salisburia adiantifolia). Its straight trunk sometimes attains a 
height of from 60 to 80 feet, and is crowned with a pyramidal 
head of deciduous leaves. These are fan-shaped, leathery, notched, 
and have numerous closely-set forking veins much resembling 
those of ferns. A male plant of Ceratozamia mexicana in flower 
afforded a good opportunity for observing the peculiar form of its 
inflorescence. This is cone-shaped, and studded with scales which 
are provided with two little teeth at their points, and with 
numerous anthers on their under surface. The mango (Mangifera. 
indica) is esteemed the most delicious of Indian fruits. Its seeds 
not unfrequently possess more than one embryo, and consequently 
present some curious deviations from the ordinary conditions of 
germination. Honey berry (Meliococca byuga), and several showy 
bromeliads with large and handsomely-coloured bracts, were also 
noticed. 
Several plants of considerable economic importance were ex- 
amined with interest. Behmeria nivea, one of the Urticaceze 
with leaves destitute of stinging hairs, is remarkable for yielding 
