Mar. 1891.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 73 



over 5 feet in height, growing on an average about 6 inches 

 annually. For the past three years it has produced, every 

 season, a few male flowers, but no female cones have yet 

 appeared. 



When the Umbrella Pine attains to some size in this 

 country, and fully displays its peculiarly attractive character- 

 istics, it is sure to receive much more attention as a useful 

 ornamental conifer and a highly interesting evergreen tree. 



Dr William Watson, referring to the occurrence of the 

 Parasol Pine in Japan, said that it occurred abundantly along 

 the coast, and is generally cultivated in the vicinity of towns 

 and villages. 



Mr Malcolm Dunn also exhibited specimens of Poly- 

 porus sanguineus, Pr., from the Knysna Forests, Cape Colony. 



The Curator exhibited Angrcecum citratiim, Galanthus 

 nivalis, yai\ Jlavesccns, and Saxifraga Biirseriana, var. Boydi, in 

 flower, from the Royal Botanic Garden. The last mentioned 

 plant came originally from Mr J. Boyd of Cherrytrees, and 

 is supposed to be a natural hybrid between ^\ Burseriana and 

 >S^. aretioides ; but as there was no plant of S. aretioides in 

 Mr Boyd's garden at the time when the supposed hybrid 

 was recognised, there is room for doubt as to its parentage, 

 and the Curator hoped that Dr Macfarlane might be able to 

 settle the point by examination of the microscopic structure 

 of the plants. 



The Rev. Mr Paul exhibited maize cobs, showing differ- 

 ently coloured grains, which he had brought from British 

 Guiana; also a spathe of Manicaria imhricata. 



Professor Bayley Balfour referred to young flower shoots 

 of the hare's tail cotton grass, Briophorimi vaginatum, which 

 had been sent from Sutherlandshire for identification as 

 specimens of the plant on which sheep live chiefly from the 

 end of February until the spring of the new grass, and to 

 the abundance of which it is said the Sutherlandshire sheep 

 farms owe their superior value. 



Mr Malcolm Dunn remarked that in Ireland the value 



