New Cases of Upiphyiism among Algoe. 219 



man, in addition to the fact that new localities are indi- 

 cated, have a special interest, as having often been observed 

 among plants procured from considerable depths. Here 

 the conditions in the struggle for existence are so far 

 modified that the association can hardly be regarded as 

 necessary, in order that the epiphytes may secure a 

 position for growth, but must be looked upon as more 

 truly of an accidental character; as at the depths in 

 question, many of the tidal species are absent, and the 

 nature of the environments are not so strained by over- 

 crowding. Beyond the tidal belt very few cases of chloro- 

 spermic epiphytes are found, the majority of the instances 

 occurring between Khodosperms and Melanosperms ; and 

 generally it may be noted, that as depth increases epiphytic 

 associations go on diminishing, but probably do not entirely 

 disappear till the bathymetrical limits of algoid vegetation 

 have been reached. 



Note on Strophanthus hispidus, ivith Exhibition of 

 Specimens obtained from Mr John Buchanan. By 

 Professor Thomas E. Eraser, M.D., F.E.SS. L. & E. 



(Read May 14, 1885.) 



My purpose to-night is not to give a description of the 

 Strophanthus plant, but merely to do little more than 

 exhibit specimens of a large supply of several parts of the 

 plant, which have been kindly brought to me from Africa 

 by Mr John Buchanan. 



It is now a good many years ago since T made an 

 examination of the plant and of some of its products. 

 This examination was interrupted by several causes, and 

 especially by the ditBculty of obtaining a sufficient supply 

 of material. Mr Buclianan's replenishment of my supply 

 has therefore been very welcome. 



In 1879 I published a paper in the Proceedings of the 

 Royal Society of Edinbiirgli, and in 1872 in the Journcd of 

 Anatomy and Physiology ; and gave in these papers a 

 description of the localities in Africa in which the plant 

 had been found, of the characters of its fruit, of the use 

 made of it by the natives of the districts in which it occurs, 



