Ixxxii Proceedin(js of the Botanical Society 



MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS, 



1. Professor Balfour exhibited specimens of Maw's encaustic 

 tiles, containing beautiful imprints of Davallia, Selaginella, and the 

 marks of Lepidodendron. 



2. Professor Balfour also showed a specimen of the so-called 

 " Panama wood," or Qidllaia saponaria from South America, 

 belonging to the Kosacese, and yielding a saponaceous secretion in 

 practical use. It had been sent to the Museum by Messrs Duncan, 

 Plocklaart, & Co. 



3. Mr Robert Hutchison of Carlowiie sent elm leaves from 

 Islay destroyed by insects. 



4. Mr Sadler exhibited two large photographs by Mr Magnus 

 Jackson, showing the Tay at the south entrance to Perth during 

 the flood caused by the melting of the snow of March 1881, 

 displaying the elm trees of the Inch reflecting double in the 

 water. 



5. Mr Sadler exhibited barren stems of the fungus Lentinus 

 lepidens (Cooke, *' Handbook," p. 242, No. 684), obtained from a 

 damp cellar in Morningside, sent him by Dr Craig. 



6. Mr Taylor showed specimens of foreign plants collected by 

 Charles W. Cowan, Esq., from among the Esparto grass used at 

 Valleyfield Mills, Penicuik, including the Lavender, and Sedum, 

 several species of Compositte, and amongst the grasses Bromus 

 madritensis, B. erectus, B. asper, Dactylis hispanica, &c. 



7. Professor Dickson called attention to plants on the table from 

 the Royal Botanic Garden. They included specimens of Cijan- 

 anthus inflatus, Dianthus alpinus, D. eximius, Linum viscosum, 

 Ranunculus acris (straw-coloured variety), found by Professor 

 Dickson ; Par?iassia Himalayensis, as well as a species of Saxi- 

 fraga from Kedarkanta, India ; Meconopsis aculeata, Allium 

 neophijUum, Umbilicus sempervivum, Saxifraga aizoides aurantiaca, 

 Androsace lanuginosa, &c. 



