443 



A. Bloxam, are well dried and characteristic examples of the plants, 

 including roots, at the stage of flowering. But the tubers (of Lache- 

 palii especially) are so brittle, that many may be broken off before the 

 specimens reach the hands of members. Unfortunately, the roots 

 were broken short off in nearly all the specimens sent by Mr. Lees ; 

 but as some of them were advanced in fruit, they show one character 

 which was wanting in the better-dried specimens from Mr. Bloxam. 

 For the wild examples of pimpinelloides the Society was indebted 

 solely to Mr. Lees. Though in a sad condition as respects pressure 

 and drying, they come very opportunely to be compared with those 

 of the other two species. I added some specimens from my 

 garden, in order to show, at the same time, the broad radical leaf of 

 the winter season, and the callous base of the fruit at the stage (before 

 maturity) where it is most conspicuous. Taken together, the speci- 

 mens in the earlier parcels of this year will sufficiently illustrate all 

 three species, but the later sent parcels may probably have less com- 

 plete examples. I will hope that Dr. Bromfield may be induced to 

 dry a quantity of pimpinelloides, which is plentiful in the Isle of 

 Wight ; because, by so good and careful a botanist, the specimens 

 would doubtless be well selected and well dried. 



8. — Primula vulgaris and its varieties. — These are examples of the 

 plants which were recorded in the * Phytologist ' for July last, as 

 having been all raised from seeds of one variety of P. vulgaris. I dried 

 a number of the flowers and leaves, and divided the whole into ten 

 sets, calculated to show the range of variation. Only half-a-dozen 

 sets could be spared for the Society, and of course, every variety could 

 not be included in any single set. One pretty complete series has 

 been sent to the Society's rooms in Bedford Street. In connexion 

 with these specimens, I would beg to call attention to the necessity 

 of preserving examples of the parent plants, as well as of the varieties 

 produced, in all cases where similar experiments are made for scien- 

 tific purposes. Inexact expressions, like "seeds of the red cowslip," 

 are indifferent substitutes for the physical illustrations placed within 

 reach of after examination (Pytol. ii. 217). 



9. — The fine series of Irish Saxifrages from Mr. Andrews, will be 

 appreciated by the members. Though the range of variation in the 

 leaves of Saxifraga Geum and S. umbrosa is very wide, the different 

 varieties run so insensibly into each other, that it becomes impossible 

 to separate them by rigid lines. Two varieties are distributed under 

 the name of S. Geum, one with the crenatures obtuse, the other 

 having them so acute as to be almost dentate in some examples ; yet 



