Ixvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



were forwarded to Professor M. Ward for examination and 

 report. 



Primula metamorphosed. — Mr. A. Dean sent a number of 

 seedlings of the " Jack-in-the-Green " form of Primula. In this 

 variety the calyx is foliaceous. Of the seedlings some had 

 assumed the " hose-in-hose " type, the calyx becoming petaloid ; 

 in others the calyx had become polysepalous, the sepals varying 

 from the foliaceous to a setiform condition. 



Primroses and Bluebells degenerating . — Mr. Henslow showed 

 specimens grown in his garden. They were received some years 

 ago from Wiltshire, but have degenerated on the gravelly soil of 

 Ealing. The Bluebells become pink, then white, at the same 

 time changing in shape from the normal cylindrical to a cup- 

 shaped perianth. This latter form is recognised as a permanent 

 one — viz., var. campanulata, of which there is a bed at Kew. 

 Transitional stages are not uncommon. The Primroses ex- 

 hibited were taken from a number of separate plants of the long- 

 styled form ; but they had nearly all assumed a homomorphic 

 character, by the pistil being dwarfed in length, and so bringing 

 the stigma down to the level of the anthers. 



Plants exhibited. — Mr. E. I. Lynch sent an interesting series 

 from the Botanic Gardens, Cambridge. Neviusa alabamensis, 

 A. Gray, a curious apetalous ally of Ehodotypus. It has 

 foliaceous sepals, and three or four carpels only. Baccharis 

 patagonica, a shrubby composite, with flowers not unlike that 

 of Groundsel ; the florets, however, are female only, with a 

 rudimentary corolla tightly fitting the style, and having no 

 border. Triosteum pinnatifidum, Maxim. ; Aristolochia ringens, 

 Vahl. ; Vanda alpina, a species not generally included in 

 catalogues ; Arisarum proboscideum (Mag. Pot., No. 6634), 

 from the shaded woods of Upper Arno and Apennines, a very rare 

 plant ; Asarum Hookeri, var. insignis, Ducli., the rarest species in 

 cultivation. A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to 

 Mr. Lynch. 



