CXXIV PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



SdbenaHa radiata. — This charming terrestrial Orchid from 

 Japan, with a spike of white flowers with fringed segments, re- 

 ceived a Botanical Certificate. 



Plmts Shown. — Lilium medeoloides (?), Byrophyllum calycinum 

 fol. var., Iberis amara, Cabbage leaves with pitchers, fasciated Ash, 

 and, lastly, an instructive series of dried flowers of Oncidium 

 Gardneri and 0. curtum, showing every grade of transition between 

 the two. 



LECTURE. 



At the afternoon meeting the Rev. Gr. Henslow, Secretary to the 

 Scientific Committee, gave a brief lecture, the first group of plants 

 to which he called attention being a fine series of Iris Kaempferi 

 from Japan, exhibited by Messrs. Yeitch. The lecturer explained 

 how the process of becoming double was being carried on, first by 

 the three inner petals, usually small, being much enlarged and 

 resembling the outer ones — an extra number of stamens appearing 

 as small petals, and the style becoming more petaloid, so that, 

 probably by continued cultivation, flowers resembling purple 

 Paeonies might be expected to be produced. Mr. Henslow de- 

 scribed the fertilisation of Iris and Crocus by insects (see Gardeners* 

 Ghroniclej vol. v., p. 505). The chief display of the day was made 

 by Begonias, consisting of variations from hybrids between B. boli- 

 viensis, B. Veitchii, and other species. Allusion was made to the 

 tendency to change the sex in Begonias ; the stamens especially 

 putting on stigmas while one specimen exhibited showed the pistil 

 surrounded by stamens. The stems contain, probably, potassium 

 oxalate, and are sometimes used instead of rhubarb ; while the juice 

 may be used like salts of lemon for extracting ink stains, only it is 

 liable to leave an indelible red stain instead ! A beautiful species 

 of Utricularia and a hybrid Nepenthes furnished matter for a short 

 account of the carnivorous habits of these genera. With regard to 

 Orchids, a remarkable species of Kanodes, "N. Medusas, was alluded 

 to, in which the labellum is adherent to the column. A fine 

 Phalsenopsis furnished an illustration of the fertilisation of Orchids 

 by insects ; the " caudicle " of the pollinia undergoes a remarkable 

 contraction, so as to curve, while at the same time it is being de- 

 pressed — the object being apparently to shorten the distance be- 



