159 



averaged about two feet in diameter. Here also Monarda fistulosa 

 and Spiranthes tortilis were found — the latter very sparingly and for 

 the first time. 



They next directed their attention to the Peninsula of Toronto, ly- 

 ing about two and a half miles from the city, across an arm of the lake. 

 The soil is poor and sandy, interspersed with marshes. Several spe- 

 cies of trees of dwarfish growth were scattered about, the most re- 

 markable being the rose or cone-gall willow {Salix conifera) ; of this 

 many fine specimens were observed, the branches generally terminated 

 by silvery, cone-like excrescences, supposed to be occasioned by in- 

 sects — which, with the silvery whiteness of the foliage, gave the plants 

 a remarkable appearance. Several other species of willows were no- 

 ticed on these sandy plains, but none of them appeared to be infested 

 with insects, although the appearance here described is not peculiar 

 to the above species. The Arbutus Uva-ursi covered considerable 

 tracts : the Canadian plant is larger than the British, and even differs 

 slightly from that found in the United States ; it is called by the In- 

 dians Sacacotitis, they smoke the leaves, and believe them to possess 

 excellent medicinal properties. Few herbaceous plants were picked 

 in bloom, with the exception of Rudbeckia hirta, which was in great 

 abundance, although described by American authors as an inhabitant 

 of the Southern States. Dracocephalum virginianum, by no means 

 an abundant plant in Canada, Niagara Falls being the station given in 

 botanical books, but there Mr. M'Nab failed to find it : its principal 

 habitats are the mountain meadows of Virginia and Carolina : Linum 

 virginianum, Cyperus flavescens and C. castaneus, Silene Antirrhina, 

 Scutellaria pai^vula and Lathyrus palustris. On dry loose sand, by 

 the edge of the lake, Euphorbia polygonifolia was abundant ; while 

 in marshy places Lobelia Kalmii formed the greatest part of the vege- 

 tation, and was profusely covered with its rich blue flowers. 



Specimens of the most remarkable plants were exhibited to the 

 meeting. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



April Ath, 1845. — J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., &c.. President, in the 

 chair. The Rev. Andrew Bloxam presented specimens of a new British 

 moss {Fissidem Bloxami, Wilson), discovered by him at Orton-w^ood, 

 near Twycross, Leicestershire. 



Read, the commencement of a paper by Edward Palmer, Esq., be- 

 ing " Descriptions of Photograpic Drawings of Plants." Specimens 

 of the diawings were presented. 



