Extracts from the Minute-Book of the Linnean Society. 563 



had been obtained from the Cape of Good Hope. One of the plants 

 flowered in the fifth year after their first appearance. The height 

 of the flower-stem was twenty-five feet. Although the flowers were 

 apparently perfect, no seeds were produced. After the flowers had 

 fallen, a multitude of small bulbs were produced on the branches. 

 In another plant, which subsequently flowered, the stem attained 

 the height of forty-four feet, with a circumference of two feet ten 

 inches near the base. Those of the other plants varied from twenty- 

 four to twenty-nine feet. 



The species proves to be identical with the Agave aibensis, a plant 

 discovered by Jacquin in the island of Cuba. It belongs to Ventenat's 

 Fourcroya, a group of species distinguished from the normal Agaves 

 by their dilated filaments, and by the thickened base of the style. 



A period of from five to seven years elapses before the plants pro- 

 duce their flower-stems. 



The disposition to produce bulbs in the species of this genus 

 appears to be influenced a good deal by the nature of the soil and 

 climate. 



Mr. Royle has remarked of Agave vivipara in India, that in rich 

 soils the plant invariably produced bulbs but no seeds, while a poor 

 soil and dry climate had the contrary effect. These bulbs retain 

 their vitality for a very long time and under almost any circum- 

 stances, so that the plants are easily transported from one country 

 to another ; which circumstance, together with the facility with 

 which they multiply and become naturalized, renders it often diffi- 

 cult to trace the species to their original localities. Several bulbs 

 of Agave cubensis, which had been nearly two years in Colonel 

 Sykes's Herbarium, grew on being planted in the earth. 



June 7. A Portrait of Edward Forster, Esq. V.P. and Treasurer of the So- 

 ciety, by Mr. Eddis, was presented by the following Fellows : 



Richard Taylor, Esq., Under-Sec. L.S. 

 Francis Boott. M.D. Sec. L.S. 

 N. B. Ward, Esq. 



William Borrer, Esq. 



George Bentham, Esq. 



A. B. Lambert, Esq. V.P.L.S. 



4 D 2 



