xl PKOCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the flower, in the position usually occupied by the dorsal sepal, and a 

 normal column. 



Cypripedium illustrations. — Mr. G. S. Saunders showed a series of 

 beautifully executed water-colour drawings of malformations in the flowers 

 of this genus as follows : — The entire absence of one or of both side petals ; 

 the entire absence of the labellum, its presence in a distorted form, and its 

 partial or entire duplication ; one or both side petals partially, or entirely, 

 taking the form of the labellum ; the side petals joined to the upper or 

 lower sepals ; the upper and lower sepals joined together ; one side petal 

 adhering to the labellum ; the lower sepal adhering to the labellum ; a 

 duplication of parts ; a double flower, caused by the adherence of two 

 flowers ; a flower showing the two lower sepals separate which are 

 generally joined together in this genus. 



Acotyledonous members of Amaryllidece. — Mr. Worsley gave some 

 account of his observations as follows : — Among Amaryllideas acotyle- 

 donous species occur in the genera Crinum, Hymenocallis, Elisena, and 

 probably in Griflinia and several Andine Pancratia. He does not think it 

 is constant even in one species. Among the Crinums it occurs occasionally 

 in C. Moorei ; frequently, or almost invariably, in Ismene and Elisena, 

 but rarely, if ever, in Hymenocallis true. Plants from regions of annual 

 droughts gain advantage by immediately forming a bulb at some depth 

 under the soil, which will not break into growth until the rains return, 

 and will thus commence their annual growth at the best time. In 

 the absence of specimens and illustrations it was impossible to form an 

 opinion as to the peculiar and anomalous conditions described. Orchids 

 and parasites, &c., Dr. Masters observed, are without cotyledons, because 

 the perfect embryo is not formed. Mr. AYorsley also described the usual 

 curvature of the radicle, or " geotropism," characteristic of all seed germi- 

 nating in the ground. He also described how a bulb will be formed at 

 the bottom of the flower-pot. This, Dr. Masters remarked, was probably 

 the well-known formation of a " dropper," so common in Tulips, &c., the 

 new bulb being formed in a leaf-sheath. 



Ferns, Anomalous. — Mr. Druery exhibited the following remarkable 

 specimen : — Fronds of Polystichum angulare var. sinuosum, sent by Rev. 

 H. Kingsmill Moore, Dublin. It is unique in having all the fronds evenly 

 flexuose at short intervals in the plane of the frond. In this respect it is 

 quite distinct from the several flexuose forms already found, they being 

 generally distorted, a fact which in pressed herbarium specimens is masked 

 by pressure. The fronds exhibited were unpressed, as received. The 

 Fern w^as found wild many years ago in Ireland by Mr. Davey. 



Hybrid Orchids. — Mr. Douglas brought some hybrids " for the purpose 

 of showing that Orchids which flower naturally at the same period of the 

 year produce satisfactory results, whereas if crosses are eff"ected between 

 species that do not naturally flower at the same period, the results are 

 unsatisfactory." As an example of the latter he referred to Laelia x 

 Briseis, a cross betw^een Lcelia purpurata S and L. harpopliylla ? . He 

 observes, " The seed did not germinate freely ; two plants Only were 

 obtained from what seemed a very satisfactory capsule. Both plants are 

 natives of Southern Brazil. L. harpopliylla produces its flowers under 

 cultivation in February and March ; its flowers are small, 2 to 3 



