395 



lieve the two species have occasionally been confounded, but I always regarded this as 

 a mistake into which no one could fall who had perfect specimens before him, and who 

 was not prepared to substitute the general aspect and habit of the plants for their spe- 

 cific characters. As Mr. Newman, in his recent publication on Ferns, has fallen into 

 this mistake, and conjoined the species, I think it not out of place to communicate to 

 the Botanical Society the following brief observations : — 



" The first character is taken fi'om the form of the frond, which is correctly stated 

 by Sir William Hooker to be bipinnate in A. Kuta-muraria, and, in alternifolium, pin- 

 nate, the lower pinna ternate ; the pinnee in both being alternate. Now so far from its 

 being the tendency of attenuated or contracted forms of A. Ruta-muraria to approach 

 the pinnate form of alternifolium — the truth of the matter is, that the more attenuated 

 the former is, the more distinctly bipinnate does it become, or in other words, the near- 

 er A. Ruta-muraria approaches alternifolium in its general aspect and habit, the fur- 

 ther and more visibly does it diverge in this character. 



" The second character is taken from the indusium, with regard to which it is hard- 

 ly necessary to remark, that while that of alternifolium has a smooth even edge, the 

 edge in all varieties of Ruta-muraria is invariably jagged or uneven, and this is quite 

 visible to the naked eye." — p. 119. 



1841, January 14. Dr. E. F. Kelaart made some " Observations 

 on the cultivation &c. of Cinnamomum zeylanicum." 



In these observations the cinnamon plantations of Ceylon were de- 

 scribed at considerable length, and the distinguishing qualities of the 

 three principal varieties of cinnamon mentioned. He also alluded to 

 the Malabar cinnatnon, " which included several sorts in one parcel, 

 but amongst which only a few pieces are equal to the finer qualities 

 of Ceylon cinnamon." It was also remarked that the Cassia lignea of 

 commerce is of three kinds ; — " that from China, sometimes called 

 Chinese cinnamon ; that from the islands bordering on China ; and 

 that from the continent of India." The former appears to be distinct 

 from all the varieties of cinnamon, from which it differs in its texture, 

 taste, colour, and other characters ; " the quills of cassia are made of 

 single rolls of bark — those of cinnamon are distinguished by being 

 composed of several, one within the other." The different products 

 of cinnamon were described, and observations made on the botanical 

 characters of the plants which yield the cinnamon and cassia of com- 

 merce ; allusions were also made to the difficulties attending the in- 

 vestigation, caused by the contradictory statements of authors. The 

 history of the various researches into the subject was adverted to, and 

 Dr. K. concluded his observations with a brief description of the " se- 

 veral species of cinnamon growing in Ceylon, Java, and the Malabar 

 coast ; as also of the Cinnamomum aromaticum, or Laurus Cassia of 

 Nees Von Esenbeck." 



Prof. Christison observed that for the last tvvent\ -five years nothing 



