1004 4 



by Messrs. S. & G. R,inz, of the Frankfurt Nursery. There were also 

 exhibited a fruited specimen of Podocarpus Mackoyi (not known to 

 have previously produced fruit in this neighbourhood) ; Passiflora 

 lunata, which had grown in a Wardian case, recently sent home, and 

 transmitted to the Garden, by Mr. Thomson, of Banchory (the leaves 

 exhibited on the under surface a beautiful series of transparent glands, 

 containing a clear, viscid matter) ; also a germinating seed of Zamia 

 sp,, presented to the Garden by Sir William Gibson -Craig, Bart. 



Mr. Balfour called attention to a curious monstrosity in a plant of 

 Gloxinia Victoria Reginee, showing chorization, or splitting, of the 

 corolla, on the upper side. The dilaminated portions were of a dark 

 blue colour, while the rest of the flower was pale. 



George Ralph Tate, Esq., of 16, Cumberland Street, was elected 

 an Ordinary Fellow. 



Thursday, June 9, 1853. — Professor Balfour, President, in the 

 chair. 



The following donations to the Societj^'s library were announced : 

 — * Memoirs ' and other publications of the Cherbourg Society for 

 Natural Science, from the Society ; ' Bonplandia' for June, from the 

 Editors. 



Dr. Balfour announced a donation of plants to the University Her- 

 barium, from Mr. Keddie, consisting of specimens collected on Leba- 

 non, by Mr. Soramerville ; and exhibited, from Lady and Miss 

 Harvey, living specimens of Ophrys fucifera, var. aranifera ; also 

 sections of woods, including one of the stem of Cordia Sebestana, 

 from Dr. Gilbert M'Nab, Jamaica, 



Dr. Balfour exhibited several recent donations to the Museum of 

 Economic Botany at the Garden. 



Dr. Balfour made remarks on the palms in the Botanic Garden, 

 and stated that some of them had sent their fronds through the roof 

 of the palm-house, and that unless measures were taken immediately 

 for making an addition to the house, he would be under the necessity 

 of destroying some of the finest palms in Britain, — a calamity which 

 he hoped would be averted, by the timeous interference of the Com- 

 missioners for Public Buildings, to whom he had made a strong repre- 

 sentation on the subject. He showed that the public of Edinburgh 

 were deeply interested in the matter ; and he had no doubt that he 

 would be aided by them in his efforts to secure for the metropolis of 



