134 Miscellaneous Contrihutions and 



/3 minor, Hook, and Am.; P. coronopus, Linn.; Fesfuca ruhm, 

 Linn.; Etirijncliium j^rcdongum (Lmn.), Sch.; and. an undetermined 

 species of fungus, of which only one specimen was observed. The 

 other plant exhibited was Carex fulva, Good.; C. xanthocarpa, 

 Degl., which is described in English Botany, ed. 3, under the name 

 of C. fulva, var. sterilis, and is synonymous Avith C. fulva, Koch et 

 Auct. plur. (non Smith). The specimens were collected in a marsh 

 near North Dam, in Hoy, on August 9, 1886. The variety sterilis 

 is distinguished from G. fulva by its denser tufted habit, pale 

 yellower-green coloured leaves, uninflated perigynium, and by 

 never producing mature fruit, either in the wild state or under 

 cultivation. 



Dr Boswell, who first found this plant in Orkney, at Piggar, 

 Swanbister, Orphir, ou the mainland, contributed notes in the 

 Eeport for 1876 of the Botanical Exchange Club, on specimens 

 collected by him at that station in August 1875. He then con- 

 sidered sterilis to be a hybrid between C. fulva and C. ffava, both 

 of which he found growing iu the same marsh with it. Now, 

 however, he is of opinion that sterilis is a sterile form of C. fulva, 

 though it is possible tliat it may be a hybrid between C. fulva 

 and C flava, but it is certainly very much nearer to the C. fulva. 

 Since Dr Boswell's discovery of this interesting plant at Piggar, it 

 has been found at three other stations in Orkney, viz., Navers Dale, 

 Orphir, on the mainland, by Mr "W. Irvine Fortescue ; near South 

 Dam, in Hoy, on August 20, 1885, by Mr Fortescue, in company 

 with Dr Johnston ; and near North Dam, in Hoy, on August 9, 

 1886, ])y the Ilev. W. K. Ginton, in company with Dr Johnston. 



Mr liattray exhibited a copy — so far as published — of Schmidt's 

 Atlas of the Diatomacete. 



Mr Lindsay exhibited the stem of a species of Tcxtuilinaria, from 

 the Cape, which had been presented to the Garden by the Honourable 

 Mrs Hope. 



Jamiary 13, 1887. 



In connection with Mr ]\Ioir's paper (sec p. 114), in which he 

 described his coffee jJantations at Blantyre as successful, Mr Taylor 

 read a letter frtnn Mr John Buchanan, in whicli he complained 

 of an over-abundance of flowers, but few l)i'rries ; on the other 

 hand, the Cinchona plantations formed by him were flourishing. 

 The cultivation of tea, which had been successfid in Natal, was 

 looked on as hopeful in the Shir6 Highlands. 



Mr Galletly read a short communication on the tlie Kauri resin, 

 of which the following is a synopsis : — 



The Daiitiiiara australis, which yields the Kauri r(!sin, is the 



