SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, MARCH 26. 



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inches across, of a bright cinnabar-red colour, and altogether unlike the 

 gorgeous L. purpurata, with coriaceous leaves 12 to 15 inches long, 

 having flowers 6 to 8 inches diameter of an amethyst-purple colour. The 

 only trace of this colour in the progeny is a slight tinge on the lip, and in 

 no respect is there anything to lead one to the conclusion that L. jmr- 

 purata was the parent. The plant is very much larger in all its parts 

 than L. harpoj^hylla, but not nearly approaching even the intermediate 

 size of L. purpurata, either in flower, leaf, or pseudo-bulbs. Can any 

 reason (other than the fact that the two species do not flower at the same 

 season of the year) be shown why the seedling is not intermediate between 

 the two parents?" He also exhibited flowers of Cyinhidium ehimieo- 

 Loiuicuium, with flowers of the seed parent, C. Loiciajium, and of the 

 pollen parent, C. ehurneum. " In this case the two parents naturally pro- 

 duce their flowers at the same time, and the result of hybridisation is 

 entirely satisfactory. The pseudo-bulbs and leaves are as intermediate as 

 are the flowers. The floAver- spikes are longer than those of C. ehurneum, 

 but not so long as in C. Lowianum. In the one case the result was dis- 

 appointing, in the other very satisfactory ; moreover, it has been asserted 

 that such results are to be expected. May I ask why ? " 



Dendrohiuni Leaves, Spotted. — Mr. Douglas remarks : — " The leaves 

 of Dendrobium, freely covered with black decayed spots and blotches, have 

 puzzled me greatly. I had a few plants sent me which developed the 

 disease, and it speedily spread to my own plants, which had been quite 

 healthy. I lost several altogether, as it also developed on the stems. 

 There does not seem to be any fungus on the diseased parts, and yet by no 

 manner of treatment can I get rid of this pest." 



Cattleya Triancei, Monstrous. — Mr. Douglas observes : — " The .flower 

 of Cattleya Triancei was sent to me by the Eev. Francis D. Horner. It is 

 abnormal as regards colour, but it has been constant for six years." 



Turmeric Tubers. — Mr. Holmes exhibited fresh specimens, an unusual 

 condition ; as a marketable product they arrive generally in a dried con- 

 dition. They are the old tubers of Curcuma longa ; the young ones are 

 white, and contain starch. 



Plants from the Botanic Gardens, Cambridge. — Mr. Lynch sent the 

 following interesting species : — Arctotis, sp. a fine plant, sent to Cam- 

 bridge by Mr. Gumbleton ; it somewhat resembles A. glaucophylla. 

 Melasplicerula graminea, a curious and graceful Irid, charming among 

 bolder flowers. There are two forms, one having pale yellow flowers, 

 which is rare ; the other has darker tinted blossoms. Hybrid Sarracenias. 

 — These shoAved variations of colour, according to those of the parent 

 species as follows : — >S'. purpurea x S.flava = Stevensii ; S. rubra x S. 

 purpurea = Chelsoni ; flava x Stevensii = illustrata : Chehoni x 

 illustrata = hybrids sent. Laportea moroides. — This plant had a large 

 bunch of Mulberry-like fruit, but paler in tint ; it bore numerous stinging 

 hairs, the leaf also resembled that of the Mulberry tree. It belongs to the 

 tribe Urticese of IJrticacea?. It is figured in Bot.-Mag. 1889, t. 7057, and 

 is a native of N. Queensland, where it is said to cause the death 

 of horses. Deherainia sniaragdina. — A native of Mexico; a tree of tlie 

 order Myrsine*, remarkable for its dark green flowers, the corolla having 

 chlorophyll. There are foliaceous, rudimentary stamens alternating with 



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