154 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Sess. lxxvii. 



Some specimens of this species are also growing at 

 Rome, near the railway station, in the Garden of Pincio, 

 at Villa Doria Pamphily, and elsewhere. The specimens 

 near the railway station are 19 m. high and 061 m. in 

 diameter at the base ; likewise, a splendid specimen culti- 

 vated at Villa Pamphily last year was fruitful, but with 

 sterile seeds. Evidently the dioecious nature of this species 

 is the cause of its frequent sterility, and the partheno- 

 carpous condition of its fruits. 



Meanwhile, as it would be very interesting to settle for 

 this species the possibility of cross fertilisation with 

 A. brasiliana, in the last spring we have dusted the 

 branches of the upper part of our specimen with the pollen 

 of A. brasiliana above mentioned, appending also the nor- 

 iferous branches of this specimen to the branches of the 

 other, for facilitating the crossing between the two species, 

 and now we are waiting the upshot of this experiment. 



Moreover, we suggest that it would be very profitable 

 to promote the culture of this species in Italy and in other 

 temperate climates, not only as an ornamental plant for its 

 persistent and pretty foliage, but also for the products 

 which it may supply (timber, seeds, etc.). 



I A New Pleurospermum. By W. G. Craib, M.A., 

 and W. W. Smith, M.A. 



Pleurospermum amabile, Craib et W. W. Sm. Sp. nov. 



Species affinis Pleurospermo deMsifloro, Benth. et 

 P. Brunonis, Benth. ; foliis floribusque persimilis, bracteis 

 obovatis vel suborbicularibus permagnis cum foliis imbri- 

 catis pulcherrime purpureo-suffusis distinguenda. 



Planta erecta 8-20 cm. alta, radice crassa praedita, basi 

 ad collum vaginis foliorum marcidorum induta. Folia 

 basalia 1-2, vagina 3-6 cm. longa, petiolo 1-2 cm. longo 

 vel nullo praedita ; lamina ambitu ovata, 3-4-pinnata, 

 glabra, ad 5 cm. longa, segmentis ultimis setaceis 1-2 mm. 

 longis ; folia caulina plura basalibus subsimilia, laxe imbri- 

 cata, vagina circ. 3 cm. longa, fere orbiculari vel late oblonga, 

 tenuiter membranacea, purpureo-suffusa, petiolo nullo, 



