Large Pinaceous Stems m front of the Herharium. 55 



analogous to the chemical action of coprolites, cement stones, 

 and the like. A recent example has been observed in peat- 

 bogs, where at certain depths, as at Screeuston, Pennsyl- 

 vania {N. Y. Ann. Nat. Sc, 1882), anthracite coal is here 

 and there found in conjunction with the unchanged peaty 

 fibre around it. On a larger scale, the "curly" bands in our 

 oil shales, as well as the known facts of certain areas of 

 commercially profitable beds thinning out, and their in- 

 creasing, as shown at West Calder, far beyond the ordinary 

 yield, point to bitumenisation from specific centres. 



On a Divarication of the Common Primrose, luith the Calyx 

 divided into Linear Segments. By Charles Howie, 

 Eden Cottage, Largo. 



{Read 12th April 1883.) 



A few plants with this abnormal calyx were collected 

 growing on the sloping banks of Kiel's Den, Largo, several 

 years ago, within a small area, where the normal form 

 grows in great profusion. The plants, with several Oxlip 

 forms, were placed under cultivation ; they had flowers of 

 various colours, from white to orange. From improved 

 forms of flowers from this motley group of plants various 

 selected forms, along with several interesting hybrids from 

 exotic species, were raised ; over one hundred selected 

 varieties were enumerated, when in consequence of the 

 wet summers and severe winters, that told severely upon 

 such plants growing in unfavourable conditions, the most 

 valuable as florists' flowers were lost, including a double 

 golden-yellow Primrose. The one exhibited is of no value 

 as a florists' flower. It assumes the Polyanthus form, with 

 a fascicle of flowers retaining the divided form of the 

 abnormal calyx, with the additional peculiarity of the 

 sepals being reflexed upon the peduncle, thus exposing to 

 view the naked tube of the corolla. The present form, 

 originating from seed saved from this group of plants with 

 the divided calyx, is illustrative of certain lines of expan- 

 sion or contraction of certain parts of their organisation, 

 which is characteristic of some species, as in that of our 

 native Primrose, where the calyx is frequently represented 



