911 



its characters. He also called attention to a specimen of Hibiscus in 

 flower, from Ceylon, sent to the Botanic Garden by Admiral Mitford. 

 It appears to be H. furcatus. 



Mr. Laing, gardener to the Earl of Rosslyn, Dysart House, exhi- 

 bited a plant of Rhododendron glaucura in flower ; also Lomatia 

 silaifolia in flower. 



Dr. Lowe exhibited specimens of branches of apple-trees showing 

 peculiar wart-like excrescences, which were said to be produced by 

 a species of Aphis. 



Dr. Balfour exhibited various recent donations to the Museum of 

 Economic Botany at the Royal Botanic Garden, among which were 

 the following, from Dr. Holden : — Specimen of caoutchouc from an 

 African Euphorbia ; specimens of a plant said to be used in the Mau- 

 ritius as a febrifuge, and in cases of indigestion, called " Japana," or 

 " Tapana;" and of another plant, called " Koma Koma," or worm- 

 root, used as a vermifuge, from Fort Murray. 



Palms, Bamboos, Pines, 8fc., on the Himalaya. 



A paper by Major Madden, H.E.I.C.S., F.R.S.E., ' On the Occur- 

 rence of Palms and Bamboos with Pines, and other Northern Forms, 

 at considerable elevations on the Himalaya,' was re£|,d. 



In this paper, the author gave an account of various plant-forms 

 which are met with in the Himalaya, and showed the association of 

 plants, which are often said to represent tropical forms, with others 

 which are said to be characteristic of temperate or cold regions. He 

 noticed Phoenix humilis, Chamaerops Khasyana, Hariua oblongifolia, 

 species of Arundinaria, Thamnocalamus, Musa, Quercus, Acer, Rho- 

 dodendron, Pinus, &c., growing at elevations varying from 5 to 10,000 

 feet. He concluded by drawing the attention of geologists to the 

 importance of these facts, as bearing on their views in regard to the 

 climate of former epochs of the earth's history ; and by showing that 

 in drawing inferences as to climate we can only do so safely by a 

 consideration of the individuals of each species, and not by that of 

 the whole species of a genus. When we find species of palms, bam- 

 boos, and banana growing amongst and above pines, cedars, oaks, 

 cypresses, yews, maples, hazels, and ash, it seems to be very rash to 

 draw conclusions, in regard to climate, from mere generic data. 



The paper was illustrated by large drawings of the principal palms, 

 &c., noticed, and also by plants of Phoenix humilis, from the Royal 

 Botanic Garden (presented to the Garden, by Mr. Moore, of the 

 Glasnevin Garden) ; the hemp-palm of China (presented by Messrs. 



