256 



1838. June 19. Read a description of Cattleya superba, Scho7fi- 

 hurgk ; the description and figure have since been published in Lind- 

 ley's 'Sertum Orchidaceum,' t. 22. 



December 18. Read a "Notice of Cereus tetragonus." By Edward 

 Rudge, Esq., F.L.S. The plant is a single stem between nine and ten 

 feet high. For about a foot from the roots it is four-angled ; at be- 

 tween three and four feet it is five-angled, with the angles lobed, and 

 within about eighteen inches of the top it has six angles. The flowers 

 are produced from the angles, and near the top of the stem. 



1839. December^. Read " Descriptions of some Vegetable Mon- 

 strosities." By the Rev. W. Hincks, F.L.S. The case first described 

 occurred in a flower of Iris versicolor, which had " 5 outer reflexed 

 segments, 4 inner upright segments, 5 stamens, 5 distinct stigmas and 

 a 5-celled ovarium. This variation appears to have been the result 

 of the union of two flowers ; and the author has witnessed a similar 

 case in some QEnotherse. The second case occurred in Iris sambu- 

 cina, in which " 3 segments of the inner series only remain, while there 

 are 5 parts in all the other circles : the line of junction is much less 

 evident than in the former, but may be observed in the ovarium and 

 tube of the perianthium." 



After mentioning similar cases of union of parts in other plants, Mr. 

 Hincks observes : — 



*' But tlie most remarkable instance of this kind of union with which he has met, 

 (Occurs in a specimen of Scrophularia nodosa, found at Water Fulford, near York, in 

 which four flowers are united into one. In this case several monstrous flowers occur 

 on the same branch, but are generally unions of only two flowers, and the tenninal 

 flowers are invariably of the ordinary structure. This Mr. Hincks regards as what 

 might be expected in a plant with centrifugal inflorescence, where the monstrosity 

 consists of a union of flowers ; whereas in the same kind of inflorescence, when the 

 monstrosity consists in a more full and equal development, the central flower might be 

 expected to be the first afiected ; and this actually occurs in a specimen which he pos- 

 sesses, of a species of Linaria with all the terminal flowers (and those alone) peloriated. 



" In the stalk of the flower of Scrophularia nodosa referred to, Mr. Hincks thinks 

 he can recognize the junction of 4 peduncles; the number of sepals is 15, one of them 

 being narrow and somewhat displaced ; that of the petals, which all cohere together, 

 1 6. Of these 7 are the lower or more developed petals, which are upright in the limb 

 and are united in pairs. * * Of the upper or reflexed petals only 9 remain ; and 

 as there are 3 of these in each ordinary flower, if one be supposed to have perished at 

 each juncture, according to the analogy of the Irides and CEnotherEe, the whole num- 

 ber will be accounted for. The number of stamens is 20, or 5 to each flower; one of 

 these has its anther abortive and changed into a scale, and there are several instances 

 of two being united together, but all may be distinctly traced. There are 3 distinct 

 ovaria," [two of which are each 2-celled, the third is 8-celled]. — p. 692. 



