592 



Miscellaneous. 



modern physiologists regarding the functions of spiral vessels (and ducts), and 



for this, Lindley's Introduction to Botany, pp. 249, 250, may be consulted 



George Dickie. 



Chara The globules of Chara contain filaments which with a low power 



of the microscope appear transversely undulated. With a plano-convex lens of 

 very high power, I have observed that the filaments consists of transparent 

 tubes, containing in their interior numerous oval, and in some cases irregularly- 

 shaped bodies, the greatest diameter of which corresponds to the short diameter 

 of the containing tube. The bodies generally present the appearance of rings, 

 having no apparent connection with the walls of the case which contains them. 

 In many instances they are crowded together, and irregular in shape ; in others 

 they are oval, and placed at equal distances. The fecula which I have seen in 

 the globules seems to have no connection whatever with the bodies now men- 

 tioned George Dickie. 



Fig. 1 represents portions of different filaments very highly magnified. 



Jungermannia In the axilla? of the leaves of Jungermannia pusilla, numerous 



small bodies frequently occur (anthers of some writers. ) They are of a white 

 colour, and consist of a reticulated membrane ; each is supported on a short 

 footstalk. On rupturing these bodies, numerous transparent particles issue 

 forth ; the resemblance of these latter to fecula is very apparent, and on the ap- 

 plication of iodine they become blue. It occurred to me that the bodies now 

 mentioned might be perhaps one way, by which Jung, pusilla is propagated. I 

 therefore placed some of them in circumstances which appeared to me to be 

 favourable to germination, but after a lapse of several weeks, they had under- 

 gone no alteration. Their true nature, therefore, still remains uncertain — 

 George Dickie. 



Fig. 2 represents one of the bodies highly magnified. 



miscellaneous. 

 Botanical Society op London — November 17, J. E. Gray, Esq. F. R. S. 



in the Chair A meeting of this Society took place at their new rooms, 



11, John Street, Adelphi. Many donations of books and plants were an- 

 nounced, and thanks ordered to be returned. The laws as again revised, 



