372 Proceedings of Societies. 



out) closely allied to Aristolochias. The Balanophoracese are far more 

 perfect in their ovules, and have albuminous seeds, with a Dicotyledonous 

 embryo. They are closely allied to Gunnera. — (2.) Dr Hooker finds the 

 germination of Xymphaiaceae to be genuinely Dicotyledonous. It is only 

 the adventitious roots which are sheathed, as is the case with many other, 

 exogens. The rhizome of the order is a very reduced form of the exo- 

 genous, but not at all constructed on the endogenous type. The species 

 of Nymphoeaceae must apparently be reduced to a very few, for in India 

 half-a-dozen varieties in colour, number of petals, stamens and stigmatic 

 rays, are found in one tank, and no two tanks have exactly the same forms. 

 *— (3.) DrH. considers that Brown's theory of carpellary sutural placenta- 

 tion is the correct one, and that axile and free placentation may be 

 reduced to it. Dr H. mentioned a case of Stachys with a four-lobed, one- 

 celled ovary formed by two carpels placed back and front, and bearing 

 half-way up a pair of parietal sutural ovules ; also a Primrose with parietal 

 ovules. The Yew which Schleiden describes as having an ovule termina- 

 ting the axis, has been shown to have often two ovules, and when one, it 

 is always oblique and lateral. 



7. On Stellaria umbrosa, Opitz. By Mr G. Lawson. 



Stellaria umbrosa, hitherto only known as a Sussex plant, had been ob- 

 served by Mr Lawson on the shore, near Rosyth Castle, in Fifeshire. 

 He did not, however, support its claims to specific distinction, and re- 

 garded it in the light of a book species, made out of forms of S. media ; 

 the Scotch S. umbrosa appeared to form even a greater departure from 

 the typical S. media, than the Sussex one. Mr L. pointed out the 

 characters which distinguished S. media, With., S. umbrosa, Opitz, ( = 

 S. grandiflora, Ten.), S. neglecta, Weihe, and S. (media?) microphylla, 

 Wight ; and exhibited specimens of all the forms in illustration of his re- 

 marks. No plant appeared to be more capable of adapting itself to all 

 conditions of soil, climate, and situation, than Stellaria media, and to this 

 circumstance was due the numerous forms of the plant known to botanists ; 

 the extremes of these forms were remarkably distinct from each other ; 

 but when studied in detail, all were found to be intimately linked toge- 

 ther. 



14th December 1854. 



1. Sketch of the Life of the late Professor Edward Forbes. By 

 Professor Balfour. This paper has been printed in the Annals of Na- 

 tural History for January 1855. 



2. On Hypericum anglicum. By Charles C. Babington, M.A., 

 F.R.S. This paper has been printed in the Annals of Natural History 

 for February 1855. 



3. On the Structure of the Anthers of Erica. By John Lowe, Esq. 



4. Summary of the Flora of the Lake District, By Mr James B. 

 Davies. 



11th January 1855. 



1. Notes on the Flora of Dumfries. By W. Lauder Lindsay, M.D., 

 Perth. 



2. Notice of plants in the neighbourhood of Oban, and in part of the 

 island of Mull. By David Philip Maclagan, Esq. 



3. On Plants found in Strachur, Argyleshire, and in Roxburghshire. 

 By William Nichol, Esq. 



