13 
dred known species, of which two are well known to many as the 
rubber plant, Ficus elastica, and the edible fig, Ficus Carica. All 
of them have the peculiar fruit known as a fig, consisting of a 
. modified branch in the shape of a hollow receptacle, on the inside 
of which are borne the numerous flowers, the pistillate ones 
developing the small seeds, which are so numerous in the edible 
g. 
In the immediate vicinity of the banyan tree in house no. 4 
will be found a number of other species of the genus Ficus, 
including a large specimen, in the center of the house, of the 
common rubber plant, Azcus elastica. 
Grorce V. Nasu. 
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE 
SCIENTIFIC DIRECTORS RELATIVE TO THE 
DEATH OF PROFESSOR LUCIEN 
M. UNDERWOOD 
Wuereas, Death has removed from this Board Professor 
Lucien Marcus Underwood, our associate from the commence- 
ment of our organization, and our chairman since the year 1901, 
We therefore desire to record an expression of our profound 
sorrow at the severance of such happy personal relations as have 
always existed between the deceased and members of this Board, 
and at the untimely ending of a career of such present value and 
of such great promise 
We desire also to since upon record our appreciation of the 
great value to the New York Botanical Garden of the services 
rendered by Professor Underwood, both in his official capacity 
and by virtue of his high and broad scholarship. 
s our chairman, Professor Underwood has always performed 
his duties in a prompt, studious and efficient manner, and has 
shown rare wisdom in conserving the higher interests of the insti- 
tution and of those served by it 
As an original investigator in ieee lines of research which it 
is the object of the Garden to promote, Professor Underwood has 
