Proceedings of the British Association, 255 



liquid, resembling champagne. The pith of its trunk affords a kind 

 of sago. Even in its decay, this palm is of use, and affords a delicacy 

 to the Indians, which likewise many colonists do not refuse, namely, 

 the larva of a large beetle. The Curculio palmarum is found in 

 large numbers in the pith when the trunk is near its decay, and 

 which, when boiled or roasted, resembles in taste the marrow of 

 a beef bone. Its average height is about 50 feet, and it has been 

 observed growing at a height of 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the level 

 of the sea. 



Prof. Allman laid before the Section a monstrosity occurring in 

 Saxifraga Geum. The three external verticels of the flowers were 

 normal, but between the stamens and pistil there was developed 

 a series of adventitious carpels crowded upon the margin of a 

 cup-like production which surrounds the lower half of the pistil. 

 These adventitious carpels were characterized by their backs being 

 turned towards the axis of the flower. The carpels bear ovules 

 on their margins, which acquired a very considerable degree of 

 development, becoming completely anatropous, like those in the 

 normal ovary. Dr. Allman explained this monstrosity by supposing 

 the existence of a series of secondary axes, which are given off in a 

 whorl between the stamens and the primary axis of the flower. These 

 axes terminate in imperfect flowers, of which the additional carpels 

 are the only remains. 



Prof. Henslow exhibited a specimen of Papaver orientalis, in which 

 the filaments of the stamens were converted into bodies bearing 

 ovules. 



Prof. E. Forbes read a paper ' On the Distribution of Endemic 

 Plants, more especially those of the British Islands, considered with 

 regard to Geological Changes.' — The author stated that the hypothe- 

 sis of the descent of all the individuals of a species, either from a first 

 pair, or from a first individual, being assumed, the isolation of 

 assemblages of individuals from those centres, and the existence of 

 endemic or very local plants remains to be accounted for. Natural 

 transport, the agency of sea, rivers, and winds, and carriage by 

 animals or through the agency of man, are means in the majority of 

 cases insufficient. The true cause the author proposed to seek in an 

 ancient connection of the outposts or isolated areas with the original 



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