Linnaan Society. 43 



but in addition to the common examjjles of the union of two stems, 

 the author appealed to a distinct case of a union of four flower-stems 

 of Scrophularia aquatica so complete that a composite flower was 

 formed containing all the parts of the four component flowers, and 

 produced a fasciated stem of Ranunculus hulbosus, where the union 

 of several stems terminated in a flower having at least double the 

 usual number of parts, as indisputable evidence of the fact. He also 

 laid before the Meeting examples of numerous branches laterally 

 arranged as if ready to combine, in immediate connexion with fas- 

 ciated stems, which, according to his view, are made up of similar 

 branches already combined. To the 5th and last objection he 

 answers that cases in which the adherence is incomplete, and on 

 which the marks of fusion of several stems are to he perceived, are 

 in fact frequently met with, and may be appealed to as strong direct 

 evidence in favour of the Linnean theory. A striking example is 

 given in DeCandoUe's ' Organographie Vegetale ' (pi. 3. f. 1) in a 

 stem of Spartium junceum having several branches only imperfectly 

 fasciated ; and similar specimens of Aucuba Japonica and Cotonenster 

 microphylla were exhibited, together with a fasciated Ash, in which 

 the traces of numerous stems were observable upon the surface. 



The author stated his conclusion to be, " that the fasciated stem 

 is best explained from the principle of adherence, where, from super- 

 abundant nourishment, especially if accompanied by some check or 

 injury, numerous buds have been produced in close proximity ; and 

 that the supposition of a leaf-like expansion of the elements of a 

 single stem is insufiicient to explain the usual appearances, and is 

 founded on a false analogy between fasciated and certain other ano • 

 malous stems." 



The specimens exhibited were from a collection formed by the 

 author and now in the Museum of Queen's College, Cork. They 

 consisted of — 1, an intimate adherence of two stems of Bunium 

 flexuosum ; 2, an entire adherence of two stems with their heads of 

 flowers of Hieracium aureum, and of two or more stems of Primula 

 veris ; 3, a fasciated stem of Ranunculus bulbosus, with the terminal 

 flower formed by the union of two, and the stem showing other signs 

 of composition ; 4, a fasciated stem of Cheiranthus Cheiri, apparently 

 consisting of at least three united branches ; 5, a fasciated stem of 

 Veronica maritima ; 6, two stems of the same plant, in which the 

 buds which usually produce individual flowers have produced se- 

 condary stems themselves flower-bearing, so as to transform a simple 

 into a compound spike ; 7, a fasciated stem of Aucuba Japonica, 

 seeming to prove the composite nature of such stems ; 8, a fasciated 

 stem of Coioneaster microphylla, in which the composite structure is 

 peculiarly evident ; 9, a fasciated stem of Fraxinus excelsior showing 

 a crowd of buds and of small branches in a linear series at the ex- 

 tremity of fasciated portions, and also showing the curved contrac- 

 tion of the fasciated branches from weaker branches being connected 

 with a stronger one. The author also referred to a remarkable 

 fasciculation of Asparagus officinalis in the same collection, the upper 

 portion of which is spirally twisted, and the crowded branches from 



