Linnean Society. 359 
libera, concaya, coriacea, siccitate multicostata. Stamina 8, toro in- 
serta ; filamentis in tubum membranaceum coalitis ; antheris elongatis, 
ovarium vix superantibus. Styli 4, lineares. Ovarium 1-loculare, pluri- 
ovulatum ; ovulis placentz basilari funiculis elongatis adnexis.—Suf- 
frutex? perennis, glaberrima, siccitate nigricans ; ramis teretibus, stric- 
tis, apicem versus foliosis. Folia petiolata, patentia, elliptica, utrinque 
attenuata, longé acuminata, integerrima. Flores in paniculas breves, 
paucifloras, terminales dispositi, breviter pedicellati, inconspicui. Calyx 
parvus, carnosus. Petala majuscula. 
Obs. Genus nulli ordini arcté affine, habitu Phytolacce. 
January 20, 1846.—R. Brown, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 
Read a memoir “‘ On the Structure of the Ascidia and Stomata of 
Dischidia Rafflesiana, Wall.” By the late William Griffith, Esq., 
F.L.S. &e. Communicated by R. H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. 
This paper bears date at Mergui, November 7th, 1834. In it the 
author gives a detailed description of the arrangement, form and 
structure of the ascidia of the species of Dischidia above-named, and 
comes to the conclusion that they are modified /amine of leaves, in 
proof of which he adduces : Ist, their similarity in texture, internal 
structure, and structure of stomata with the limbs of the ordinary 
leaves; 2ndly, the slight but constant tendency in the limb of the 
leaves to assume an involute form; 3rdly, the occurrence of an im- 
perfectly transformed pitcher, in which the body of the pitcher is 
clearly referable to the limb of the leaf ; and 4thly, the general con- 
struction of the petioles in Asclepiadee, which renders it more na- 
tural to refer the ascidia to the limb of the leaf in that family. He 
regards the inner surface of the pitcher as corresponding with the 
upper surface of the leaves; and is confirmed in this view by the 
greater abundance and development of the stomata on those surfaces. 
On the lower and outer surfaces the stomata are more or less imper- 
fect ; but on the upper and inner they show a considerable degree of 
complexity. They are particularly remarkable for the existence of 
an external cellular bourre/et or thickening, much elevated above 
the surface and of a whitish colour, giving rise to an appearance of 
minute white dots, which are especially conspicuous on the purple 
inner surface of the ascidia. They appear to have a very slight con- 
nexion with the cuticle, from which they are easily detached, and.are 
not met with on old ascidia. Each dourrelet is composed of from 
three to five cells, assuming the appearance of a cup-shaped gland. 
The stomata themselves are also somewhat elevated above the cutis ; 
the surrounding cells are parallelogrammic and disposed in circles, 
into the composition of each of which enter three or four cells, and 
each circle diminishes successively in size from without inwards. 
The stoma occupies the space of the innermost circle, and in itself 
presents nothing unusual. 
Read also a paper by the same author, dated Calcutta Botanic 
Garden, July Ist, 1835, ‘‘ On the Seeds of Careya, Roxb.” | 
The author gives a detailed description of the seeds of Careya her- 
bacea (those of C. arborea he states to be exactly similar), from which 
