
TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 71 
D. gingidium, The object of this communication was to show that the characters by 
which these supposed species were distinguished are by no means constant, but on the 
contrary extremely variable; that the Daucus carota passes gradually into the Daucus 
maritimus as it approaches the neighbourhood of the sea, and that the plant which 
has been referred to Daucus gingidium is also a sea-side variety of Carota, There is 
however an unnoticed form, probably of an extreme variation of the supposed gin- 
gidium, occurring on the coast of Dorsetshire, which is remarkable for having dusky 
yellow petals with ciliated margins, whereas all other forms of our carrots have white 
petals with entire margins. To this variety it is proposed to apply the name eiliatus, 
This plant, which at first sight has much the aspect of a veritable species, is probably 
the one mentioned by Decandolle as occurring near Dieppe, and referred by that 
author to Daucus hispidus of Desfontaines. It does not appear probable however 
that the plant so called by Algerine botanists is identical with that from the shores of 
theAtlantic, nor is there any sufficient evidence that either D. gingidium, D. hispanicus, 
or D. littoralis of Mediterranean floras have been found (as has been asserted) north 
of the Bay of Biscay. Living specimens of the plants described were exhibited to 
the Section. 


On some Abnormal Forms of the Fruit of Brassica oleracea. 
By Evwin Lanxester, M.D., F.R.S. 
The specimens in which the monstrosities were observed were gathered from under 
the Culver Cliff in the Isle of Wight. In many of the specimens the fruit exhibited 
the external form of the silicle rather than the silique. The beak and the stigma, 
which normally are fully developed, were reduced to a mere rounded point, and in 
many cases the distance from the stigma to the pedicel was not more than the sixth 
ofaninch. On opening these fruits no vestige of a septum could be found, and the 
partly developed ovules adhered on each side to a continuous mass of vascular tissue 
uniting the two carpels. Each carpel was broader than it was long, and was com- 
posed of alittle leaf-like bag, which was puckered and contracted at its union with its 
fellow on the opposite side. Reticulated veins were easily observed on each of 
the metamorphosed carpels. From the fruits in this state up to those normally de- 
veloped, were a series of transitionary forms presenting almost every possible variety 
of form. The author suggested that these changes in the fruit of a cruciferous plant 
suggested the possibility that the septum, the beak, and stigma in the Cruciferze were 
not, as had been suggested by previous writers, foliar or carpellary structures, but that 
they had a true axile origin, 
On the Vegetable Productions of Algiers. By G. Munsy. 
‘In this paper the author gave a sketch of the various plants which give a character 
_ to the vegetation of Algiers. He mentioned those which are used as the food of man. 
Amongst these he entered into a discussion of the species of plants which had been 
supposed to yield the Jotus of the ancients. He also described the Lichen esculentus, 
a plant of rapid growth belonging probably to the order of Fungi, and which covers 
some of the desert wastes of Algeria. It has a sweet taste, is eaten by the Arabs, and 
is quite capable of sustaining animal life. Mr, Munby suggested that the manna re~ 
corded in Scripture might be a production of this kind. 
On the Nervous System and certain other Points in the Anatomy of the Bryozoa. 
[ By Prof, Aruman, M.D., M.R.I.A. 
The first notice ef a nervous system in the Bryozoa is due to M. Dumortier, who 
mentions the existence of a transparent body at the base of each of the tentaculiferous 
lobes in his genus Lophopus, established for the Polype & Panache of Trembley, these 
bodies being considered by Dumortier as true nervous ganglions, 
In referring to the nervous system the appearance just mentioned, Dr. Allman was 
of opinion that this naturalist has fallen into an error ; but it is nevertheless quite cer- 
tain that Dumortier had observed the true nervous centre in a yellowish body which 
exists on the rectal aspect of the cesophagus just behind the mouth, and which he has 

referred doubtfully to the system of the nerves. 
bed atin 
