PROFESSOR BALFOUR ON THE IPECACTTAN PLANT. 785 



more or less acute angle with the lower portion of the stem. In Plate XXXII. 

 fig. 10, there is shown the full-grown fruit (natural size) of a Rio Janeiro 

 plant, artificially fertilised, supported on its peduncle, with the involucre at the 

 base of the fruit. In fig 11 the fruit is magnified about one-half more than 

 natural. The fruit is drupaceous, of a deep purple violet colour, and shining 

 lustre. It consists of a finely coloured epicarp ; a whitish, pasty, and nearly 

 tasteless mesocarp, enclosing two hard stony nucules, each containing a hard 

 albuminous ovate seed with a minute embryo. The fruit produced by plants 

 with short styles (as seen in Plate XXXII. fig. 1, c) is short and round; that 

 from the plants with long styles (as seen in Plate XXXII. fig. 10) is larger and 

 slightly narrowed at the apex. In Plate XXXII. fig. 11, the two central 

 nucules are shown, convex on the outside, and nearly flat on the inner side, 

 with a ridge. Fig. 12 shows one of the nucules separated, exposing its 

 inner surface with its single rib. Fig. 13 shows the hard seed, having the 

 form of the endocarp, the cavity of which it fills completely, and having a groove 

 on its .flat surface. The albumen consists of thick-walled starch cells (Plate 

 XXXII. fig. 15). There is a minute central embryo. 



Memorandum as to the Mode of transmitting Specimens of the Ipecacuan Plant 



to India. [Added October 1872.] 



In August 1869, Mr M'Nab made cuttings of the root of the Ipecacuan, 

 and young plants were produced freely. Early in 1871 there was a large stock 

 of well-grown plants, which were sent to India in Wardian cases. The con- 

 struction of these and the mode of packing are detailed in Mr M'Nab's paper in 

 the " Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh," vol. x. The plants 

 were successfully transmitted under the care of forest officers and gardeners who 

 happened to be going to India. In one instance cases were sent by the Messrs 

 Lawson without any one to look after them, and the plants arrived in safety. 

 In one of the cases sent from the Botanic Garden, every plant was in a good 

 condition when they reached Calcutta. 



At first, most of the plants were sent in earth placed in pots, well fastened 

 down in the case. Afterwards sphagnum moss was employed, and this method 

 is strongly recommended by Mr M'Nab. With the view of sending a large 

 supply, the plants were taken out of the pots, wrapped round with fresh moss, 

 and closely packed, so that a case 24 inches long and 16 broad contained easily 

 fifty or sixty well-grown plants. 



I am disposed to think it is possible to send out the roots of the Ipecacuan 

 attached to the stem, but without leaves, in dry soil, made up of peat and sand, 

 and that they may even be transmitted by post in a close box. Boxes with 



VOL. XXVI. PART. IV. 9 T 



