Dec. 1894.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDIXBUUGH. 301 



year 1576, mentions that the fruit of the Tamarisk moved 

 actively for three days ; the motion in this case being 

 caused by the larva of a small beetle, Namodes Tamaricis, 

 which so closely resembles the plant on which it feeds that 

 it is difficult to find upon the plant. Similar motions are 

 observed in some galls, particulars of which are given in 

 the above-mentioned paper. 



As regards the objects of the motions, it is conjectured 

 that the bean may by means of them arrive at a sheltered 

 spot, where the insect will not be dried up and killed by 

 the direct rays of the sun, or injured by excessive rain. 



Mr. EuTHERFORD HiLL exhibited a plant of Aspidistra 

 datior in flower; also a photograph of Aristolochicc r/igas 

 Sturtcvantii as it flowered in the Eoyal Botanic Garden 

 during the year ; also specimens of emetin and cephalin, 

 the alkaloids of Psychotria Ipecacuanha ; and a specimen 

 of the bark of a Rliopcda said to be fire-proof. 



Mr. Lindsay exhibited photographs of Cliamccrops cxcclsa 

 growing and fruiting in open air in the garden of Dr. 

 Eamsay, Torquay. 



The following communications were read : — 



On Lathyrus Sativus, the Yetchling, with a Com- '^ 



PARATIVE EevIEW OF THE POISONOUS PROPERTIES OF SOME 



ALLIED Leguminous Plants. By E. Stewart M'Dougall, 

 M.A., B.Sc. 



The natural order Leguminosai includes a very large 

 number of plants having among them very diverse pro- 

 perties, some being nutritious, others purgative and 

 astringent, and still otliers poisonous. The order is divided 

 into three sub-orders — 



a. Papilionacea?, 

 h. Csesalpineie, 

 c. Mimosete. 



