554 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—K. 
and Pythiogeton ; it is probable that further search will add Allomyces and 
Araiospora to the British flora. 
The peculiar Hyphomycete, Tetracladium Marchalianum, sometimes 
occurs among dying alge. 
Other interesting Phycomycetes, in particular Thraustotheca clavata and 
Geolegnia inflata, have been obtained from the soil of a garden in South 
London. These fungi, with species of Pythium, and numerous forms not 
yet identified, developed on boiled cress seeds placed in a shallow layer 
of water and soil and subsequently transferred to clean water. 
All these forms deserve further study, as they are of great interest 
morphologically, and of importance taxonomically. 
Saturday, September 9. 
Excursion to the Peak District. 
Sunday, September 10. 
Excursion through Rutland (via Oakham), Stamford, etc. 
Monday, September 11. 
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS by Prof. F. E. Luoyp on The types of entrance 
mechanisms of the traps of Utricularia (including Polypompholyx) 
(10.0). (See p. 183.) 
Prof, J. McLean THompson.—On the acarpous nature of certain forms of 
inferior ovary (11.30). 
Within recent years the author has been privileged to examine a wide 
range of Scitaminean plants, and in particular to examine the development 
and morphology of their inflorescences. 
He has been compelled to the conclusions that many forms of cymose 
inflorescence in the affinity have arisen by reduction of branched cone- 
bearing strobili, with flowers arranged in spiral order, and that sub-floral 
branching is not involved. The final stages in reduction of the intermediate 
cymes are simple spikes. 
The flowers themselves are considered to have been crateriform, with 
vegetative organs displayed} in spiral succession on the outer surface of the 
crater and with microsporangiophores on and towards the rim. ‘There 
were neither carpels nor styles, but the crater was occupied by mega- 
sporangiophores produced in spiral manner. The latter are the modern 
ovules. The crater is considered to have been reduced and its margin to 
have been curtailed, so that upper microsporangiophores came to lie on the 
inner rim. Here they were sterilised to styles, and their subjacent areas of 
support within the crater became the modern placente. ‘The acarpous 
view of the ovary is supported by evidence of progressive contribution of 
the andreecium to the style without involving the organisation of the ovary. 
Mr. F. F. Hype.—Notes on the floral morphology of the Campanuloidee 
(12.15). 
The structure of the flower in a number of genera is described with special 
reference to the vascular anatomy. ‘The bearing of the investigation on 
