244 



* Linnccan Society. 



leaf, and the scale between it and the female is probably analogous 

 to the indusium of ferns. The most instructive plant is Anthoceros 

 (which is not a Hepaticu), for this may explain Ferris by showing 

 that a pre-existing organ, to be acted upon by the male influence, is 

 not necessary. Endlicher says Isoetes has no stomata ; De Candolle 

 figures them in his ' Organographie ;' in /. capsularis they are very 

 evident : no matter whether emerged or submerged, all plants having 

 a cutis have stomata." 



Read also a paper " On a new genus of Plants from Chile." By 

 John Miers, Esq., F.L.S. 



This genus, which is named by Mr. Miers Solenomelus, on account 

 of the confluence into a tubular form both of the stamina and stig- 

 mata, belongs to the natural order Iridece, and is thus characterized : 



Solenomelus. 



Cruckshanksia, Miers, Travels in Chile, ii. p. 529. non Hook. 



Perianthium petaloideum ; tubo brevi incurvo ; limbo 6-partito, laciniis 

 patentibus, 3 snperioribus erectioribus, 3 inferioribus deflexis. Tubus 

 stamineus cum tubo perianthii coalitus, demum liber, ore antheras 3 

 sessiles gerens. Stylus filiformis. Stigma integrum, urceolato-tubulo- 

 sum, margine ciliatum. Capsula tricpietra, trilocularis, loculicido-tri- 

 valvis. — Herbae Chilenses perennes, habitu Sisyrinchii. Spatha bivalvis, 

 dorso sub apice mucronata. Flores breviter pedicellati. 



1. Solenomelus Chilensis, foliis lineari-ensiformibus, corolla aurantiaca. 

 Cruckshanksia graminea, Miers, Travels in Chile, ii. p. 529. 



Hub. apud Concon, locis umbrosis. 



2. Solenomelus punctatus, foliis angustioribus, corolla aurantiaca; laciniis 

 singulis supra basin puncto sanguineo notatis. 



Hub. prope Concepcion. 



Mr. Miers observes, that the curved corolla, the coherence of the 

 -filaments throughout their entire length, and the union of the stig- 

 mata into an urceolate tube, afford characters that sufficiently di- 

 stinguish this genus from Sisyrinchium, to which it is in other re- 

 spects most nearly related. In all the species of the latter genus 

 that he has examined he has found a portion of the filaments free ; 

 and he thinks the genus should be limited to those species in which 

 the stamina are only partially united. This would exclude S. odo- 

 ratissimum, Cav. (which is apparently the same as S. Narcissoides, 

 Lindl.) and S. flexuosum, LindL, described as having entirely united 

 stamina, and further differing from Sisyrinchium in having a long 

 infundibuliform corolla, with more distinct markings, and a very 

 odoriferous smell. On these species Mr. Miers proposes to found a 

 genus under the name of Symphyostemon ; agreeing with Solenome- 

 lus in the complete union of its stamina, but differing by its deeply 

 cleft style and the shape of its corolla. He thinks also that several 

 species added to Sisyrinchium by Sprengel, such as S. collinum, S. 

 flliforme and S. flexuosum, should be discarded from it, and believes 

 that the entire genus requires a revision, for which he regrets that 

 he does not possess sufficient materials. 



Read also a " Notice of a new species of Araucaria from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Moreton Bay ; and of the Germination of Nuytsia flori- 



