26 



the membrane remained as a simple sac. In the ripe spore the author 

 could distinguish only a single coat, which grows out into a tube at 

 one point in germination. During this process the entire spore, with 

 its contents, becomes colourless, the yellow colour and the globules 

 disappearing; and after a short time chlorophyll vesicles appear, 

 which, on the application of iodine, are seen to be imbedded in a 

 coagulable, colourless protoplasm. 



In conclusion, the author again directs attention to the striking 

 circumstance, that throughout the whole course of development he 

 met with no nuclei; neither did he observe nuclei during the deve- 

 lopment of the spores of Sphaerocarpus tenestris, which he had also 

 partially traced. Sometimes the globular bodies, before alluded to 

 as formed in the yellow protoplasm, presented appearances which 

 might be mistaken for nuclei ; but careful investigation always led 

 him to believe that these appearances were deceptive ; and as he 

 obtained clear and well-defined views of all the various stages with 

 fully sufficient magnifying powers to see nuclei if present, he states 

 that he is compelled to deny their existence here. 



Ripe Seeds of Cy cade cb produced without Impregnation. 



Dr. Wallich, V.P.L.S., read the following extract of a letter from 

 Prof Lehmann, dated Hamburgh, 14th December, 1849 :— " I write 

 to inform you that a work has just appeared, namely. Proceedings of 

 the Fifth Meeting of Scandinavian NaturaUsts held at Copenhagen, 

 1847. Copenhagen, 1849. 8vo. There is in it a very remarkable 

 paper by Liebmann, entitled ' A few words concerning the Impregna- 

 tion of Cycadeae,' p. 501 seq. It appears, according to this paper, 

 that in that family ripe and vegetative fruits may be produced, without 

 the process of impregnation. A female plant in the Botanic Garden 

 at Copenhagen (males do not exist in Europe) produced seeds which 

 have germinated ! Liebmann made the same observation in Mexico." 



Affinities of the Family of Triuriacece. By John Miers, Esq., F.L.S. 



Having concluded the description of these remarkable plants, 

 which he gives in much detail, Mr. Miers proceeds to observe on 

 their affinities. They evidently belong to one common group with 



