4!26 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 



a property of irritability resident in the granules themselves. Mr. 

 Sanderson endeavoured to show that, in certain species at least of 

 Goldfussia, it is impossible that any such motion of the granules 

 can take place, as the necessary condition, viz. the continuity of 

 the cylindriforra cells with the papillae, is absent. After giving a 

 description of the different layers of cells of the style, and showing 

 the complete separation of the papillae of the stigma from the cylin- 

 drenchyma of the style, the author concludes, that from these facts 

 it is evident that no change of the position of the granules can, in 

 the instances adduced, cause any alteration in the position of the 

 stigma, and that there seems every reason for supposing that the 

 change produced by irritation is confined to the external series of 

 cells which in Goldfussia, as in Mimulus, have the property of re- 

 sisting the tendency which the organ has, from the elasticity of the 

 epidermis, to curve inwards on the application of a mechanical or 

 chemical stimulus. 



3. "On the mode of Growth in Nostochinece," by John Ralfs, Esq. 



4. *' Remarks on some Mosses found near Penmanshiel," by John 

 Hardy, Esq. The author stated that he had ascertained that 148 

 species of moss occurred within a short walk of Penmanshiel, being 

 nearly as many as Dr. Dickie finds within ten miles of Aberdeen. 



5. Dr. Balfour made some observations on the structure of Lyurp, 

 a peculiar, hairy, scale-like matter found on the leaves of Eucalyptus 

 dumosa. This substance is considered by Newport to be caused by 

 the attack of an insect. The nature of it is still involved in much 

 uncertainty. It has been analysed by Dr. Anderson, and is found to 

 contain a large amount of sugar. The hairs which surround the cup- 

 like bodies are marked with striae, which converge in a peculiar 

 manner towards a space running along the tube. The tubes contain 

 granular and amylaceous matter, which becomes blue by the addi- 

 tion of iodine, but the hairy matter surrounding the cochineal insect 

 does not do so. The subject is under investigation by Dr. Anderson ; 

 and Mr. Cay, who transmitted the substance from Australia, is ex- 

 pected soon to send specimens of the plant with the substance at- 

 tached, so as to enable botanists to determine its nature more de- 

 cidedly. 



6. Dr. Balfour stated that he had observed the following plants in 

 flower at the Bridge of Allan, near Stirling, during the first week of 

 April : — 



Draba verna ; Sisymbrium thalianum ; Capsella Bursa-pastoris ; Car- 

 damine hirsuta ; Ranunculus Ficaria ; Caltha palustris ; Cerastium tri- 

 viale ; Viola odorata, in great profusion in the woods behind the vil- 

 lage ; Potentilla Fragariastrum ; Ulex europeeus ; Sarothamnus Sco- 

 parius ; Ribes Grossularia ; Oxalis Acetosella, Keir ; Taraxacum offi- 

 cinale, and cut-leaved variety ; Tussilago Farfara, going out of flower ; 

 Senecio vulgaris ; Bellis perennis ; Lamium maculatum, M'^oods at Keir ; 

 Lamium purpureum ; Nepeta Glechoma ; Primula vulgaris ; Primula 

 veris ; Veronica hederifolia ; Ulmus montana ; Narcissus Pseudo-nar- 

 cissus, woods at Keir, probably introduced ; Galanthus nivalis, almost 

 completely out of flower ; Luzula pilosa, Keir ; Poa annua ; Prunus 



