Linn^an Society. 33 



Read further " Descriptions of two new Swan River Papilionacea." 

 By Thomas Moore, Esq., F.L.S. 



The characters of these species, which have recently flowered for 

 the first time in Enghsh gardens, are as follows : — 



Gastrolobium pyramidale, ramulis foliis stipulis pedunculis bracteis 

 caiycibusque dense tomentosis, stipulis longis setaceis recurvis, foliis 

 petioiatis 3-nis ovali- obtusis v rotundatis mucronatis suj)ra demum 

 glabris, racemis axillaribus dense capitatis, pedunculis foliis paullo 

 brevioribus, bracteis trifidis : superioribus obovatis mucronatis, calyce 

 canipanulato ; dentibus superioribus lateralibusque obliquis, pedicellis 

 calyce brevioribus, ovario subsessili \t[11oso. 



Hab. ad fl. Cygnorum N. HoUandiae, Drummond, ser. 5. no. 54. 



Chorozema nervosum, ramulis pubescentibus, foliis late cordatis rigide 

 cuspidatis crasse marginatis integris utrinque conspicue venosis glabris 

 uudulatis subcarinatis, racemis paucifloris axillaribus terminalibusve, 

 pedicellis supra medium bibracteolatis calyce brevioribus. 



Hah. ad fl. Cygnorum N. Hollandife, Drummond, ser. 5. no. 23. 



Both plants were obtained by Mr. Moore from the Nursery of 

 Messrs. Henderson in the Edgware-road, where they had been 

 raised from Mr. Drummond's seeds. 



November 16, 185-2. — N. Wallich, Esq.. M.D., Vice-President, in 



the Chair. 



Read Mr. Henfrey's memoir " On the Development of Ferns from 

 their Spores." 



The author commences his paper by referring to the remarkable 

 discoveries published by Count LeszczjH-Suminski in 1848. and the 

 observations to which they have subsequently led on the part of 

 others ; which appear to necessitate important changes in our gene- 

 ral views of the reproduction of plants. He finds, however, that the 

 results of some of these later observations differ in many respects 

 not only from those of Suminski, but also among themselves ; and 

 that opinions are divided both as to the actuality of the most im- 

 portant fact of all, viz. the process of impregnation, and as to the 

 period and circumstances of its occurrence. Under these circum- 

 stances he has thought he would be performing a useful task in sub- 

 jecting the question to minute investigation, in the course of which 

 he has carefully traced the development entirely through its course 

 from the spore to the young leafy plant, applying every available 

 means to clear up the anatomical conditions in each stage of the 

 progress. The drawings which accompany the memoir were nearly 

 all made by means of the camera lucida eye-piece, so that they repre- 

 sent preparations actually seen. 



The subject is treated of under three heads ; the first section con- 

 taining the author's own obser^'ations ; the second, a critical exami- 

 nation of those of preceding authors ; and the third, a few remarks 

 on the general bearing of the results upon vegetable physiology. 



Under the first head, Mr. Henfrey describes first the prothallium, 

 and its mode of growth, enlargement and decay ; secondly, the 

 antheridia, with their sperm-cells and spermatozoids ; thirdly, the 

 Ann. ^- Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. xii. 3 



