255 



Africa, communicated to the author by Mr. Harvey. The determiua- 

 tion of these genera having led the author into an inquiry as to the 

 affinities of others belonging to the same group, the results of his in- 

 quiries are given in the paper here published. 



Great difference of opinion seems to have been entertained among 

 botanists, respecting the true position and affinities of the Olacineae : 

 after giving a synoptical view of the whole order, in which the eleven 

 genera belonging to it are briefly characterized and divided into three 

 tribes, the author comes to the conclusion that Mr. Brown's view of 

 the close connexion of this order with the Santalacese is the correct 

 one. The j^aper concludes with detailed descriptions of the two new 

 genera, which are also figured. 



Art. XLIV. — Extracts from the Minuie-Book of the Linnean Society of 

 London. 



1837. Nov. 21. Read the following " Notice of the discovery of 

 Cucuhalus baccifer, Linn., in the Isle of Dogs." By Mr. George 

 Luxford, A.L.S. 



" The accompanying specimen of Cucubalus baccifer was, with many others, col- 

 lected by me in the Isle of Dogs, in the early part of last August. This plant was 

 originally introduced into the British Flora by Dillenius, in the third edition of Ray's 

 Synopsis, [267, under the name of Cucubalus Plinii]. He there speaks of it as hav- 

 ing been gathered in hedges in Anglesea (Mona) by Mr. Foulkes of Llanbeder, and 

 sent by him to Dr. Richardson ; but in a letter from Mr. Foulkes to the latter gentle- 

 man, published in the Linnean Conrespondence, vol. ii. p. 171, he states that he only 

 had ' an account of it from one who pretended to know plants very well,' but that he 

 himself ' could find no such plant.' In a note to this letter, in the work just mention- 

 ed. Sir J. E. Smith says, ' Nobody, as far as I could learn, has ever met with the plant 

 since, except in curious botanic gardens, in any part of the British isles ; and accord- 

 ingly I was obliged to be content with a garden specimen for the figure in ' English 

 Botany,' tab. 1577. I am, therefore, under the necessity, however unwillingly, of 

 excluding the Cucubalus baccifer from our British Flora.' It was accordingly omit- 

 ted when Sir James published his ' English Flora.' 



" The locality in the Isle of Dogs is on the banks of the ditch on the left hand of 

 the road from Blackwall to the Ferry-House ; and there, if not truly indigenous, it is 

 at least perfectly naturalized. I also feel convinced that I have met with it in simi- 

 lai- situations in other parts of England ; but the plant not being in flower, I have 

 passed it, as I did the first time I saw it in the Isle of Dogs, thinking it to be merely 

 Cerastium aquaticum, which in that state it much resembles. It is probable that, like 

 Polygonum dumetorum, this plant only requires to have the attention of botanists di- 

 rected to it, to lead to its discovery in other localities ; and I shall be happy if my 

 meeting with it so near London may be the means of getting it restored to the British 

 Flora, where it is certainly as much entitled to a place as Centranthus mber, Petrose- 

 linum sativum, and other avowedly naturalized plants.'' — p. 687. 



