BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, ETC. 255 
observation.” The author stated that his observations began on 
Atriplex rosea, and, to make a graphic representation of results, he 
iven manner, whi 
produced a regular curve: when this principle was applied to 
one and Salsola an | ae different result came out, and 
a zigzag course was plotted, due to the long and short internodes 
alternating. His belief was that this et due to the fusion of 
ranch and stem, for axillary branches dap given off, but without 
visible traces of the fusion which does exist; in Salona - 
instance, the leaves are fused up to the ark node above. Co 
tinuing his observations, the mee a examined Sicculularia a 
which ad leaves opposite at the —— while the ietieomeoas 
was alternate; Symphytwm showed the same, but Rhinanthus Crista- 
Galli presented a@ curious anom Lm ag the leaves were commonly 
opposite, but sometimes the tip showed a cleft, becoming distinctly 
bilobed, and then, by displacement, passing into the alternate 
seca Lysimachia vulgaré 3 first showed eH sage 
then, by the process last de oeribed; ey i t the a and 
becoming distinct, a whorl of four leaves finally sppeaeaes The 
random. Although this was only a preliminary statement of the 
facts observed, it embodied a long series of observations. 
Ar the meeting on the 18th June, 1903, Mr. C. B. Clarke 
showed specimens of a variety of the primrose, Primula vulgaris 
Huds., with remarkably small flowers, to which he proposed to 
give a varietal name. A paper by Mr. 8. T. Dunn, on ‘* New 
Chinese Plants,” was, in his absence, read by Mr. C. H. Wright. 
Copp tieuiipti Dunn, a genus of Usnbelliferse, in W e 
secondary branches of the inflorescence are cymose, not tiribeliase, 
as is usually the case in the order. Eleven new species of Senecio 
dothamnus Solandri A. Cunn. Mr. Wright also read a short paper 
by Mr. W. B. Hemsley, on the germination of the seeds of Davidia 
involucrata. The fruit has an exceedingly hard, bony endocarp, 
nelosing usually a number of | iis Under the influence of 
moisture, a portion of the back of each cell (carpel) separates and 
. falls —_ in the form of a valve or —— revealing a » portion of 
the The radicle soon begins to grow, and in time reaches 
