158 ' • BEPORT — 1875. 



On a Variety of Poljpodium vulgare. By Prof. "W. E. M^Nab, M.D. 



Dr. M'^Nab exhibited and described an abnormal frond of the common polypody 

 {Polyjiodhmi vidgare) which had been given him by Captain Jones, of Pembroke 

 Koad, Clifton, Bristol, and in whose magnificent collection the plant producing it 

 was grown. The plant had been gathered in a wild state by Captain Jones, and 

 bas been cultivated by him for some time. The leaf was about nine inches long, 

 and may be briefly described as a combination of the variety camhricum and the 

 typical "form. The basal pinna was bipinnatifid, the segments of the first order being 

 so deeply cut as to be pinnatipartite. The first lower pinnule (left) of the basal 

 pinna was divided like the main portion of the pinna. The second pinna (right) 

 was similarly divided, but larger than the first, the first lower pinnule being very 

 much divided. The third pinna (left) was pinnatipartite, with pinnatifid divisions ; 

 and this pinna, unlike the first and second, had the basal pinnule very small. The 

 fourth pinna (right) is below almost undivided, like normal P. ridgare, but with the 

 upper two thirds divided. The next pinna is on the right side and is normal ; there 

 is a space on the opposite side caused by the displacement of the fifth pinna (left), 

 which is exceedingly small and undivided. The seventh pinna (right) is normal. 

 The seventh and ninth pinnoe are close together and much divided, the eighth 

 (right), which is normal, being succeeded by a series of normal pinnte. The upper 

 part of the leaf is covered with sporangia, while the lower abnormal portion is not 

 fertile. Another leaf was shown which was entirely bipinnatifid. 



In these lea-ses the normal basifugal and apical mode of growth was observable. 

 The pinnse at the base assumed somewhat the form of the upper part ; and it was 

 evident that long-continued growth, apical and basifugal, had taken place, in the 

 lower pinnules, the greater portion of which were tender and delicate, and showed 

 a marked contrast in texture to the upper fertile part of the leaf. 



Hofmeister has shown that the branching of fern-leaves is dichotomous, the right 

 and left fork-branches being alternately developed as a pinnule, and a sympodium 

 or false axis produced by the other branches. In Tohjimdhnn rulgare a single 

 central pseudaxis is produced, while in the abnormal form just described the lower 

 pinuEe become sympodially developed ; and in two cases the first pinnule of each 

 has a well-marked sympodial development. 



On a Variety of Eubus. By Prof. W. R. M*-Nab, M.D. 



This Rtihts was discovered by Captain Jones, of Clifton, in the neighbourhood of 

 Bristol. It is a variety with very narrow leaves, not unlike the fern-leaved beech. 

 The leaves are trifoliate, the terminal leaflet being the largest, the two lateral 

 ones very small and poorly developed. 



On tlie Application of the Fibre of Adansonia digitata. By J. J. Monteiro. 



On Spiranthes Eomanzoviana. By David Moore, Ph.D. 



On a rare Species of Fungus found in Surrey. By Cecil H. Sp. Perceval. 



The specimen which was exhibited was one of the Gasteromycetous family, and 

 of the order Trichogastres, its specific name being Batarrea phatloides, P. 



This fungus was one of four found growing on the ground in the interior of an 

 old hollow pollard-ash, in the grounds of the Earl of Egmont at Nork, near 

 Epsom, in Surrey, from which place Clavaria ardenia (Sow., pi. 215) also dates its 

 name. It was found by the exhibitor on December 12, 1872, and had not, he 

 was told, been met with for several years. The soil in the tree was very light 

 and dusty, composed chiefly of the decayed debris of the old tree mixed with 



