350 



The spot where the Pilularia grows is a long distance from the sides, 

 though near a barren little island, on which there is not a vestige of 

 a fern of any kind. The water is about forty inches deep there. The 

 pond, I ought to add, is in a manner artificial, or at least parts of it. 

 1 mean by that, that about a century ago parts of it were dry or 

 marshy, and, as far as I can learn, it was so in the particular part 

 where the Pilularia grows. Now, although this takes away from the 

 interest of the plant as being indigenously submerged, yet it fully 

 proves its capability to live and flourish in such a situation. The 

 growth of a century may well establish naturalization ! Its mode of 

 growth is by an upward direction of the stem, which loses its creep- 

 ing character, becomes vertical, and so appears at the surface of the 

 water. The thread-like fronds are produced, as usual, at intervals, 

 but they form a more or less acute angle with the stem. I have not 

 observed any fructification at the base of the fronds. Indeed, had I 

 not seen the circinate vernation I should certainly have passed it by 

 as one of our common water-plants, jto which it bears a considerable 

 resemblance, and for which I cannot help thinking it may be some- 

 times mistaken. I may observe that the Pilularia does not exist on 

 the present margin of the pond, nor anywhere else in the neighbour- 

 hood that I am aware of. 



W. W. Spicer. 

 Henley Park, near Guildford, 

 September 18, 1851. 



Botanical Society of London. 



Friday^ August 1, 1851. John Reynolds, Esq., Treasurer, in the 

 chair. 



The following donations were announced : — British plants from 

 Miss Griffiths and Dr. Bidwell. ' Proceedings of the Berwickshire 

 Naturalists' Club;' presented by the Club. 'Pharmaceutical Jour- 

 nal' and 'Transactions;' presented by the Pharmaceutical Society. 

 * An Outline of the Flora of the Neighbourhood of Godalraing, Sur- 

 rey, with brief notices of the Geological Features of the District, by 

 J. D. Salmon, Esq. ;' presented by the Author. Parts 1 and 2 of the 

 ' Transactions of the Microscopical Society of London ;' presented by 

 that Society. ' The Gardener's Magazine of Botany ;' presented by 

 the Editors. ' The Flora of Liverpool, by Dr. Dickenson ;' presented 

 by the Author. 



