Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 153 
is a glen called Blackburnrigg Dean, about a quarter of a mile from 
Grant’s Station of the N. British Railway. It offers nothing to the 
eye, yet there are a number of good plants in it, such as Melica 
nutans, Helosciadium inundatum, Pyrola media, Chrysosplenium alterni- 
folium, Sedum villosum, Rubus saxatilis, Trientalis europea, Carduus 
nutans, Listera cordata, Botrychium Lunaria. Poterium Sanguisorba 
grows near Barmouth Station, south from Eyemouth. [This plant 
was found abundantly near St. Abb’s Head, by Dr. Balfour’s party, 
two years ago.] Ranunculus arvensis, Lythrum Salicaria, Galium 
boreale, and G. Mollugo, grow near Swinton, and Ophioglossum vul- 
gatum near Coldstream, this last being new to the Berwickshire flora. 
2. “ A short Notice of East Lothian Plants,” by J. C. Howden, 
Esq. In this paper the author mentions the occurrence of Weissia 
nigrita on Gullane Links ; and gives a list of plants found by him in 
various parts of East Lothian; at Presmennan Lake, Typha latifolia, 
Scutellaria galericulata and Carex intermedia. On the banks of Whit- 
tingham Water, Saponaria officinalis, Cichorium Intybus, Malva 
moschata and Hyoscyamus niger. In Ormiston Woods, Valeriana py- 
renaica, Convallaria multiflora, Polygonum Bistorta. In Prestonhall 
Woods, Helleborus fetidus has become naturalized; and on the side 
of the road between Whittingham and lites: Asperula taurina has 
ar itself. 
** Notice of PIAssaBA, a fibrous matter, from South America, 
Pie for the manufacture of ropes,” &c., by Dr. Balfour. ‘This fibrous 
matter was sent to Dr. Balfour by Mr. Michael Connal of Glasgow. 
It is used for the purposes of manufacture in London, and is im- 
_ ported from Bahia, Pernambuco, &c. Dr. Balfour gave a general 
account of the fibrous matter yielded by Palms, and alluded to the 
microscopic structure of their woody bundles. He illustrated his 
remarks by specimens of fibre from the cocoa-nut palm, sago palm, 
talipot palm, Livistona chinensis, and various species of Chamerops 
and Corypha growing in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. He stated 
that Dr. Arnott had examined the Piassaba fibre, and referred it to 
the Attalea funifera of Martius. The palm i is the Cocos de Piacaba 
of Prince Maximilian’s Travels. It attains a height of twenty or 
thirty feet, and has pinnated fronds fifteen or twenty feet long. The 
fibres of the petioles and spathes, after maceration, are used for 
forming very tenacious cables, which resist well the action of salt 
water. The black fibrous matter resembling whalebone, which is 
connected with the leaves, has been employed for forming brushes. 
Specimens of this manufacture were exhibited, also a large drawing 
of the palm. The fruit of this palm, under the name of Coquilla 
nuts, is imported into this country. The pericarp is thick and hard, 
and is used for making handles for umbrellas, drawers, &c. When 
examined under the microscope, it shows thickened cells very much 
resembling those seen in bone, the thickening matter being depo- 
sited in concentric circles. The seeds have an oily albumen, and a 
kind of solid palm oil is formed from them. Specimens of the nuts, 
and the articles made from them; as well as of the solid oil, were 
shown. 
4. ‘ Alge Orientales” (part 5), by Dr. Greville. In this paper 
