Linncean Society. 217 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



LINNVEAN SOCIETY. 



June 6, 1843.— Edward Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



Read a " Description of Peltophyllwn, a new genus of Plants allied 

 to Triuris of Miers, with remarks on their Affinities." By George 

 Gardner, Esq., F.L.S. &c. 



The plant descrihed in the present commvinication was discovered 

 by Mr. Gardner in the province of Goyaz, in the interior of Brazil, 

 and the few specimens which he possesses are unfortunately all 

 female. The following are its characters : — 



Peltophyllum, Gardner. 

 Flores dioici. Masc. ignoti. Foem. Periyonium 6-partituni, coloratum, 



patens, persistens ; laciniis ovatis, longe acuminatis ; acumiiie piano. 



Ovaria phn-ima, in tori apice sessilia, adpressa, libera. Sti/li ad apicem 



incrassati, oblique truncati. Fructus ignotus. 

 Herba parvula Brasiliensis. Folia a scapo distantla, longe petiolata, pel- 



tata, valde reticulata. Radix tuherosa, fibrosa. Scapus suhramosus, 



basi squaviosus ; pedunculis basi bracfeatis, unifioris; floribus luteis. 

 Peltophyllum luteum, Gardn. Herb. Bras. n. 3570. 



Mr. Gardner compares the female flowers of his plant with those 

 of Ti-iuris, to which it is evidently nearly related ; and discusses at 

 some length the subject of their proper position in the natural system, 

 which he believes to be along with Smilacece and the other orders of 

 the group to which Prof. Lindley gave first the name of Retosce and 

 subsequently that of Dictyogens. He proposes to form a distinct 

 order for their reception under the name of 



Triurace^. 

 HerbcB parvulse, pereiines, rhizomate repente ? Folia soli'aria, a scapo 

 distantia, longe petiolata, nervosa, integerrima. VngincB ad basin pe- 

 tiolorum menibranaceae. Scapus subramosiis, basi squamosiis. Flores 

 regulares, dioici ; pedicellis unifioris, bracteatis. Perigorduin coroljinuni, 

 o- vel G-partitum, patens, persistens ; laciniis longis, acuminatis, aesti- 

 vatioue basi valvatis ; acuniine interdum tubuloso, ante anthesin gy- 

 rato incluso. Stamina 3 vel 6? Aiitheree extrorsse, loculis disjunctis, 

 imo androphoro magno carnoso centiali insertse. Ovaria plurima, in 

 tori apice sessilia, adpressa, libera. 0(;K/a in loculis solitaria ? Styli 

 sublatei-ales, subulati, vel ad apicem incrassati et oblique truncati. 

 Fructus ignotus. 

 A figure of Peltophyllum luteum, with details, from the pencil of 

 Mr. Miers, accompanied the paper, 



June 20. — E. Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



Read " Notes on the Forest-trees of Australia." By George 

 Suttor, Esq., F.L.S. &c. 



Mr. Suttor states that the far greater number of these trees be- 

 long to the order Myrtacea, and chiefly to the genus Eucalyptus. The 

 species are very numerous, and many of them are stiU undescrlbed. 

 They are generically known to the colonists as Gum-trees, and their 

 distinctive names are chiefly derived from the colour of their barks ; 



