450 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 



Nov. 3.— Hewett Cottrell Watson, Esq., V.P., F.L.S., in the Chair. 



The following papers were read : " On the Botany of Lichfield," 

 by the Rev. Richard Garnett ; " Notes on a species of Cuscuta found 

 at Duxford, Cambridgeshire," by Mr. Frederick Bond. 



The Chairman presented a series of specimens of the Common 

 Birch, in order to show that the forms described by different authors 

 under the names of Betula alba, pendula, yliitinosa and pubescens are 

 only varieties of one single species, the original Betvla alba of Lin- 

 naeus. Mr. Watson stated that he had repeatedly found on different 

 branches of the same tree, the various forms of leaf and other cha- 

 racters which were given as the distinctions between these supposed 

 species ; and that the leaves of Betula ylutinosa or pubescens were 

 produced usually (if not always) on the seedling plants of Betula alba 

 or pendula. 



Mr. Edward Doubleday presented specimens of Primula elatior 

 from the Bardfield Station. These specimens were remarkable for 

 the wide variation in the relative length of the calyx and corolla, and 

 also in the form of the lea-ves, some specimens resembling the prim- 

 rose in their tajjering leaves, while others had the abruptly contracted 

 leaves similar to those of the cowslip. It was announced that the - 

 Herbarium of the Society might be inspected every Friday evening 

 from seven to ten. 



Specimens of BarkJiausia setosa, DeC, were exhibited, one of 

 which was j^resented by Mr. Cumming in 1841, collected by him at 

 Audley End, Essex. The other was jiresented by Mr. G. S. Gibson, 

 and was collected by him in a field near Sampford, Essex, in 1843. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



This Society held its first meeting for the season on Thursday, 

 November 9, Dr. Neill in the Chair. 



Professor Graham read an account of a botanical excursion, un- 

 dertaken with some of his pupils in August last, to North Wales, the 

 principal feature of which was the extreme paucity of the Alpine 

 vegetation as compared with that on the Grampian ranges ; and the 

 great interest of the products in the Welsh valleys, w^hen contrasted 

 with the vegetation of low levels among the Scottish mountains. 



Dr. Graham also read a notice by Dr. Bell Salter, of some recent 

 additions to the flora of the Isle of Wight, and of the many species 

 or varieties of Rubi occurring in that island, one of which, considered 

 by Dr. Salter to be Rubus suberectus, was particularly interesting from 

 its size, almost reaching that of a small tree, and with leaves above 

 six inches in length. 



Mr. Brand read a communication from Dr. W. H. Campbell re- 

 specting the Eta palm wood of British Guiana, which is of extreme 

 lightness, and is used in the colony, among other things, for sharp- 

 ening razors, &c., probably owing to its containing much sites. Dr. 

 Campbell also mentioned several other kinds of wood equally remark- 

 able for their solidity and w^eight, for their great beauty, and for the 

 high prices they fetch in this country for veneering and other orna- 

 mental cabinet work. 



