Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 205 



the stones were almost completely enveloped by the expanded con- 

 tinuous root. 



5. " Remarks on the growth of Bambusa arundinacea," by Mr. 

 Robert Scott. (See p. 120.) 



Dr. Cleghorn of the Madras Army exhibited drawings of some in- 

 teresting plants from Western Mysore, India, a tract of country little 

 explored by botanists, where for some years he has been in a pecu- 

 liarly favourable position for acquiring information. The district he 

 represented to be singularly rich in natural productions : many me- 

 dicinal shrubs are found, yielding gums, barks and dyes, the value of 

 which is not sufficiently known or appreciated. There were laid 

 before the meeting a specimen of Mysore gamboge, with figures of 

 Garcinia pictoria, Rox., which furnishes it, and other Guttiferce ; also 

 Zanthochymus pictorius, Rox., &c. The analysis and researches of 

 Dr. Christison (with the opinion of the Bombay Chamber of Com- 

 merce) has fully established the intrinsic value of this gamboge, 

 whilst the concurrent testimony of several accurate observers prove 

 that the tree is found in abundance at an elevation of 2000 to 3000 

 feet along a great portion of the range of Malabar Ghauts. The 

 cofFee-planters, who propose trading in the new article, have been 

 seeking information, and it is expected that this hitherto neglected 

 production of the forest may become an export of commercial im- 

 portance from the western coast of the peninsula, rivaling Siam 

 gamboge in the London market. Attention was directed to Entada 

 Purstetha (W. & A.), an immense climbing shrub which runs over 

 the tallest forest trees ; the legumes are often 3 feet long, and the 

 seeds are used as weights in the bazaars. Among other plants ex- 

 hibited were Hexacentris Mysorensis of Wight, Xanthoxylon triphyl- 

 lum, Juss., and Acrostichum flagelliferum of Wallich. These draw- 

 ings of Mysore plants, executed with the aid of a native artist, amount 

 to 500 ; and the species collected by Dr. Cleghorn run up to 2000. 

 From various interruptions and delicate health, the greater part of 

 the collection remains unarranged. A sketch of the vegetation of 

 Mysore was promised for a subsequent meeting. 



Mr. M'Nab exhibited a peculiar gelatinous matter, which con- 

 tinues to increase in a solution of sugar, and forms it into vinegar. 

 In the course of a month the mass divides, forming two independent 

 masses, each of which has the power of carrying on the process of 

 converting saccharine solution into vinegar. The vinegar produced 

 is excellent, and is the only kind used by several persons in Edin- 

 burgh. 



Mr. Evans exhibited Antennaria dioica and hyperborea, showing 

 the diiFerence between the two plants, the leaves of the latter being 

 cottony on both sides, while those of the former are so on the under 

 side only. Mr. Evans also exhibited plants of the Silesian potato, a 

 small Ranunculaceous plant, whose tubers have been used for food. 

 Dr. Balfour exhibited male flowers of Pinus Lambertiana from 

 Mr. Spiers, with whom this pine is flowering ; and stated that the 

 same plant has likewise produced fertile flowers, and is in course of 

 ripening seeds. 



