Australian and New Zealand Plants in Arran. 197 



curious plant receives its name from the stem at tlie base 

 swelling into the shape of a bottle. I liave the promise 

 of one of these Australian Bottles for Arran. 



The Grass Tree {Xantliorrhcea arhorea). — This very 

 remarkable plant (see Balfour's Class-Book of Botany, pp. 

 92 and 930) is very rare in this country, though well known 

 in the plains of Australia. Through the kindness of a 

 friend, its leaves are now waving in front of his house, 

 enjoying the great heat of our present weather (August 11). 

 Soon I hope to see them waving in a favourable situa- 

 tion in Arran. I might mention that I saw, in the 

 possession of James Wilson, Esq., Kilmarnock, a walking- 

 stick of Grass-tree wood. It had been sliown at the 

 Dunedin Industrial Exliihition. 



Miscellaneous Plants, not Australian. — Camellia (blooms 

 freely), Myrtle (blooms abundantly), Buddleia glohosa (in 

 bloom, very beautiful) ; Desfontainea spinosa, 7 feet 

 6 inches high, and covered with flowers ; Photinia serru- 

 lata, Elceagyius reflexa rariegata, JEuonymus lati/oUus 

 aureus, 4 feet 9 inches high ; Coccoloba vcspertilionis ; 

 Platanus orientalis, 3 feet 8 inches in girth ; Schizostylis 

 coccinea, blooms most abundantly every year ; Cunning- 

 hamia sinensis (Chinese broad-leaved Fir), planted about 

 1858 by the late IMr Townley. 



Notes on some of the larger Palms in the Palm-Stove of 

 the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinhurgli. By Egbert 

 Lindsay, Curator. 



(Read January 8, 1885.) 



On the completion of the new Palm-house at the Koyal 

 Botanic Garden in 1858, the late Professor Balfour gave, 

 in our Transactions (vol. vi. p. 128), a detailed account of 

 this fine structure, including a description of some of 

 the larger Palms then growing, and their respective 

 heights. The late Mr M'Nab also communicated to the 

 Society from time to time much information regarding 

 them. The object at present is to record the progress that 

 has been made during the last twenty-seven years by those 

 plants which still exist, and also to give some information 

 regarding younger plants, several of which give indications 

 of erelong outstripping the older ones. Of the old Palms 



TRANS. BOT. 800. VOL. XVI. O 



