225 



found, from which the sections Nos. 3 and 4 were cut. The position 

 they occupied was about ten feet below the original surface, beneath 

 the lowest bed of gravel and immediately over the boulder clay, their 

 direction being nearly east and west. Three of the pieces were lying 

 horizontally, and two of them had a rise towards the east at an angle 

 of 10°. At the western or lower part of these stems, roots in con- 

 nexion with them could be traced, but they mouldered away to the 

 touch." The sections exhibited have been presented by Mr. M'Caul 

 to the museum of the Botanic Garden. 



There was exhibited a large and beautifid tuft, made in wax, of 

 Gentiana verna, covered with flowers, having been prepared by Miss 

 Fraser, in imitation of a fine plant, shown at a previous meeting, from 

 Dr. Neill's garden. The wax plant was so accurately executed that 

 it was at first taken for a living plant. Having been presented by 

 Miss Fraser to Mr. M'Nab, he presented it to the museum at the Bo- 

 tanic Garden. 



A specimen of yellow-flowered Hibiscus, i*aised by Mr. Isaac An- 

 derson from seeds sent from China by Colonel Eyre, was exhibited. 

 The plant was about two feet high, and had a woody stem. The 

 leaves are hair^, the petals sulphur-yellow, the flower when expanded 

 being three to four inches across. The epicalyx consists of eight to 

 ten linear sepals, while the calyx consists of two sepals united and 

 thrown to one side. 



A specimen of Hyoscyamus, raised from seeds communicated to 

 Mr. Moore, of the Glasnevin Botanic Garden, by Major Madden, was 

 exhibited. The plant grows in the Himalaya, and resembles H. albus 

 in some respects. In the open border it attains the height of two feet. 

 It has ovate leaves and terminal cymes. The flowers are of a dingy 

 yellow, and the calyx is covered with glandular pubescence. Dr. 

 Douglas Maclagan tried the effect of the plant on the eye. A single 

 drop of the fresh juice caused dilatation of the pupil in twenty 

 minutes, and the dilatation, with slight double vision, continued for 

 twenty-four hours. 



A curious Siberian Iris was exhibited by Mr. Samuel Hay. He 

 had procured it from Mr. Cunningham, of Comely Bank, but no his- 

 tory was given with it. It might possibly be a hybrid. 



Several interesting alpine plants were exhibited from the garden of 

 Dr. Neill, including Arenaria ciliata, &c. ; also a plant of Strelitzia 

 regina, showing a peculiar malformation by the adhesion of the two 

 leaves by their mid-ribs. There was likewise shown a species of 

 Kennedia, which had been sent home by Commissary Neill. 

 Vol IV. 2 g 



