809 



means. A few lowland species, not yet known as inhabitants of the 

 Mediterranean shores, but which belong to Mediterranean genera, 

 and do not claim affinity with the native Flora of the Atlantic Islands, 

 he also includes in the Flora of the cultivated region. He next ad- 

 verted to the native Flora of the island, which, he said, was identical 

 in character with that of the interior of the Canary Islands and the 

 Azores. It was well marked by the predominance of ferns, both in 

 respect of the number of species and the fertility of individual life. 

 Laurels and evergreen trees, with the arborescent heath, characterize 

 the mountain scenery, and give their name to the island, Madeira sig- 

 nifying the land of woods. Compositae, Ericaceae, Labiatae, and Cru- 

 ciferae are represented by more than the usual proportion of species ; 

 Gramiueae and Leguminosae hold an average place ; and there is a 

 remarkable deficiency in species of Rosaceae and Cyperaceae. 



Mr. M'Laren gave a table showing the proportion of species in the 

 different natural orders, for the two phyto-geographic regions here 

 indicated, and entered into some details, to show the relations of these 

 regions to the Flora of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Islands 

 respectively. The paper was illustrated by specimens collected last 

 winter, during his residence in Madeira and Teueriffe. 



Structure of Pentas carnea. 



The President communicated a paper from Mr. Oliver, of New- 

 castle, intituled ' On certain Structures observed in Pentas carnea, 

 Benth: 



This plant furnishes an instance of an interesting form of cellular 

 tissue ; it also presents singular interpetiolary processes, which seem 

 to be of a glandular nature. 



Mr. Oliver remarks: — "I have lately been engaged in a rather 

 cursory microscopic examination of these objects, and believe that a 

 brief notice of them may be interesting. Those interested in cell- 

 multiplication, the relation of the primordial utricle to the secondary 

 deposits of the outer cell-membrane, and the nature of such deposits, 

 will find this plant, if I am not much mistaken, a useful addition to 

 their means of prosecuting such inquiries. 



" The regular, gamopetalous, tubular corolla of Pentas carnea is 

 about one inch in length at the time of flowering. 



" Surrounding the throat of the tube, and to about one-fourth the 

 distance down it, to the base of the attachment of the short, free fila- 

 ments with the tissue of the corolla, is a dense collection of unicellu- 

 lar hairs directed upwards. These hairs are slightly broader about 

 VOL. IV. 5 L 



