744 REPORT — 1887. 



Veitch., showing a triple series of stomata developed along each margin. On re- 

 cently examining the leaves of seedling plants of S. Kraumiana the peculiar mar- 

 gioal stomata were also found to be present. The stomata are usually developed 

 close to the midrib of the leaf, on one, rarely on both sides ; but the special mar- 

 ginal stomata to which the author directed attention form three rows, one on the 

 actual edge of the leaf and one on the upper, another on the under side. In many 

 species the margin of the leaf is occupied by a series of elongated sclerous cells; 

 but in the three species above mentioned these cells are wanting. The marginal 

 stomata are easily demonstrated with carbolic acid, which renders the whole part 

 exceedingly transparent. In such transparent specimens the course of the fibro- 

 vascular bundles can be readily traced, and the relation of the ligule to the bundle 

 clearly made out. The bundle is slightly dilated by the addition of two or tiiree 

 tracheides just below the base of the ligule, and the author suggests that the 

 ligule is probably an organ of absorption. 



8. On the Adventitious Buds on the Leaves of Laclienalia pendula. 

 Il>/ Professor McNab, M.D.', F.L.S. 



The author exhibited a leaf of Lachenalia pendula gigantea from the Royal 

 Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, with three adventitious buds close to the base and an 

 inflorescence of Lcichencdia orchiokles, with a bulb in the scape some distance below 

 the first flower of the raceme. Adventitious buds ou leaves of monocotyledons 

 are rare, but occur on IIi/acint/m.s fastigiatus (Pouzolzii), Ornithogalmn thyrsoides, 

 Eucomis regia, Atherurus ternatus, and Malaxis pcdudosa. The buds on both the 

 species of Lachencdia were first noticed by Mr. F. W. Moore, the Curator of Glas- 

 nevin Garden, to whom the author was indebted fcr the specimens exhibited. 



9. On the lioot-spines of Acantliorhiza aculeata, H. Wendl. 

 By Professor McNac, M.D., F.L.S. 



The author exhibited two photographs of the stem of the Mexican palm, 

 AcantJiorhiza aculeata growing in the palm-house in the Eoyal Botanic Garden, Glas- 

 ne\'in, Dublin. The upper part of the stem and bases of the leaves were covered with 

 the remarkable erect root-spines which characterise the genus. The apogeotropic 

 nature of the aerial roots is specially remarkable, and the slender erect main spine 

 contrasts with the thick descendmg roots which fix the stem to the soil. Iriartea 

 ferox also possesses erect root-spines, while in the figure oi Acanthorhizn Warceiviczii 

 (Flora Brasiliensis, pi. 132) the spines are spreading or depressed. The structure of 

 these roots, and the absence of root-caps, has been described by Friedrich in the 

 ' Acta Horti Petropolitani,' vol. vii. p. 535. 



10. On the Gramineous Herbage of Water Meadows.^ 

 By Professor W. Fkeam, B.Sc, F.L.S., F.G.S. 



The land on either side of the river Avon, flowing southward through Wiltshire 

 and South Hants to enter the sea at Ohristchurch, is extensively laid out in water- 

 meadows, of which the soil and the system of irrigation are described. The flora 

 of these meadows is interesting, inasmuch as it is the result of a long-continued 

 uniformity of conditions, the intermittent system of flooding rendering the area 

 practically independent of variations in the rainfall, and to some extent counteract- 

 ing the influence of extremes of temperature. 



The herbage is more exclusively gramineous than is the case on ordinary 

 meadow land. There are at least sixty non-gramineous species, which are thus 

 distributed ■.— Thcdamiflorai 8, Calycijlorce 15, Corollifiora 27, Incomplete 5, Mono- 

 cotyledones 5. 



' Published in extrnso in tbe Land Ayenti^ Record. 



