284 Miscellaneous. 



as to present us with the second specimen, which he possessed from 

 the Crag of the County of Norfolk, where Mr. Wood, an English 

 geologist had found it. — Bulletin de VAcademie de Bruxclles, 1838. 



ON A NEW EXOTIC SPECIES OF POLYPORUS. BY PROF. J. KICKX. 



Polyporus myrrhinus. Nob. — Graveolens, suberoso-coriaceus , pi- 

 leo rufescente, strigoso-velutino, zonato, basi subtus tubercu- 

 loso ; poris rotundis lutescentibus. 



Hah. Cuba. 



Sessile, unilateral, obliquely and irregularly reniform, plane, thin 

 (its greatest thickness not surpassing 7 mill.), nearly 11 centim. long 

 to 17 centim. broad. Pileus marked with zones of various colours ; 

 some brownish-red with short hairs, very dense and soft, giving the 

 surface a velvety appearance ; others alternating with the first, nar- 

 rower, greyish, with stiff erect hairs. Lines of growth deep. Base in- 

 feriorly tuberculous. Margin thin, straight, presenting now and then 

 small perforations arising from foreign bodies inclosed by the plant 

 during its growth. Hymenium yellow, of a deeper tint towards the 

 outer margin. Pores very small, approximate, rounded, entire, de- 

 current along the basal tuberosities of the pileus. Sporidia white. 



The Polyporus myrrhinus belongs therefore to the group of annual 

 and coriaceous Apodes, and should take its place by the side of P. 

 hirsutus, Schrad., Liindii, Fr., and Polyzonus, Pers. The odour which 

 this species diffuses is that of myrrh. It is impossible to mistake it. 

 Besides, there is a method which I have had recourse to more than 

 once for the diagnosis of vegetable emanations, and with which I 

 have almost always succeeded. It consists in passing the object over 

 a bottle containing ammonia for some minutes. The experiment 

 proves that by this process (the theory of which however I do not 

 take upon myself to give), we strengthen without altering the aromas, 

 the weakness of w^hich would otherwise have hindered their being 

 recognised. 



A character so easy to prove as the existence of the resinoso- 

 balsamic odour, which we have mentioned, seemed to merit being ex- 

 pressed in the specific name. — lb. 



ON THE VERNATION OF THE CYCADACEM, BY F. A. W. MIQUEL. 



In all botanical works, we find quoted, as one of the characters of 

 the Cycadacece, the circinate arrangement of the young leaves, and 

 from this at one period was inferred their affinity to Ferns. The au- 



