60 



funale and Omalia lentula, two new mosses from Jamaica, transmitted 

 by Dr. G. M'Nab. 



8. Descriptions of Plageochila subbidentata and Parmelia ochro- 

 leuca, two new lichens also sent by Dr. M'Nab from Jamaica : and 

 of Leskea angustifolia, Phragmicoma affixa, and Radula Grevilleana, 

 new species from Jamaica in Dr. Greville's herbarium, by Dr. Taylor, 

 Dunkerron ; specimens were exhibited to the meeting. 



Mr. Absolon sent a large specimen of Lolium temulentum from 

 fields near Forfar. 



Tlmrsday, December 9, 1847. — The Rev. Dr. Fleming, President, 

 in the chair. 



Donations to the herbarium were announced from Mr. O. W. Son- 

 der, Hamburgh ; Mr. Joh. Lange, Copenhagen ; Dr. Jessen, Kiel ; 

 Mr. J. T. Syme, Edinburgh ; and Mr. P. Gray, Dumfries. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. On Anacharis Alsinastrum, a new British Plant, by Charles C. 

 Babington, Esq., with a Synopsis of the other Species of the Genus, 

 by Dr. J. C. Planchon. 



2. On the Reproduction of Cryptogamic Plants, by the late Wm. 

 Stark Dougall, Esq., communicated by Dr. Balfour. 



The first part only of this paper was read, viz., " On the Mode of 

 Formation of Spores in Algae and Characeae." 



In the introductory remarks the author examines the opinions en- 

 tertained by botanists as to the existence, in these plants, of bodies 

 equivalent to the stamens and pistils of the higher orders of vegetables. 

 The arguments in favour of their existence are, the presence in the 

 same or different individuals of two kinds of cells, the union of which 

 in some way appears to be necessary for the production of germinat- 

 ing spores. These cells sometimes exist in the same cavity, so that 

 the functions cannot be always easily detected. At other times they 

 are separate. In the latter case, the spores are occasionally produced 

 by the actual conjugation of two individuals of the same species. 

 The spores, when first discharged, frequently exhibit ciliary move- 

 ments, like those seen in the ova of animals. And lastly, the cells 

 representing anthers often contain Phytozoa, or moving bodies similar 

 to the Spermatozoa of animals. 



The reproduction of Algae is then brought under consideration as 

 observed in Diatomaceae and Confervaceae, with their cell-division, 

 conjugation and development of endochrome ; in the Fucaceae and 

 Ceramiaceae, with their antheridia, spores and tetraspores ; and in 

 Characeae with their globule and nucule. 



