A SYNOPSIS OF TILLANDSIE.E. 107 



"I am scientifically, and in my own fashion, a Darwinian ; philoso- 

 phically, a convinced theist ; and religiously, an accepter of the 

 'creed, commonly called the Nicene,' as the exponent of the 

 Christian faith."* 



Asa Gray's seventy-fifth birthday in 1885 was made an occa- 

 sion of congratulation by his fellow-botanists, whose tribute of 

 affection took the form of a handsome silver vase, embossed with 

 representations of North-American plants, among which those with 

 which his name is connected hold a conspicuous place. The 

 greetings of one hundred and eighty American botanists were 

 thus represented ; while others, not botanists, also offered their 

 nited of respect. Mr. James Eussell Lowell's lines may be quoted: 



" Just Fate ! prolong his life, well spent, 

 Whose indefatigable hours 

 Have been as gaily innocent 



And fragrant as his flowers." 



His last visit to this country took place last year. His step was 

 almost as elastic and his manner as bright and kindly as ever, and 

 yet there were signs which made us feel that w r e should probably 

 not see him again. He received the degree of Doctor from the 

 Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Edinburgh ; and attended the 

 meeting of the British Association in Manchester. The likeness 

 which, by the courtesy of Mr. Guttenberg, the photographer, we are 

 enabled to reproduce here, is from a group consisting mainly of the 

 botanists who were present at the Association, taken while the 

 meetings were in progress. Two gaps in this group have already 

 been made by death, and two which it will be by no means easy to 

 fiU; De Bary and Asa Gray are no longer with us. 



Dr. Gray returned home in October, and at once resumed work 

 upon the ' Flora/ But his labours were nearly done. At the end of 

 last November, a paralytic stroke closed his long botanical career ; 

 and although he lingered on until the 30th of January, his powers 

 of speech never returned, and on that day he passed quietly from 

 among men. He was buried in the .Mount Auburn Cemetery ; but 

 Ihs name will live for ever in the annals of science, and will long 

 stand pre-eminent in the history of the botany of his country. 



James Britten. 



A SYNOPSIS OF T1LLANDSIEM. 



By J. G. Baker, F.R.S., F.L.S. 



( Concluded from p. 144.) 



Subgenus XL ( onostachys (iriseb. — Leaves densely rosulate, 

 thin, Bubglabrous, lorate or lanceolate. Inflorescence more 

 or less decidedly multifarious. Petal-blade Ungulate ; daw 

 with a pair of scales at the base- Differs only from Vriewa by 

 its non-distichous inflorescence. 



Spikes simple . • Sp. 235-287. 

 Spikes panichd . • Sp. 288-24 L 



* 'Paiwiiiiana/ Prefi e. 



