SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JULY 22. 



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Scientific Committee, July 22, 1902. 



Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and nine members present. 



Leucojum droppers. — Mr. H. H. Benton Bradley, of Sydney, sent 

 additional illustrations of bulbs of Lcucojum, showing two bulbs, one 

 above the other ; also similar bulbs artificially separated and both growing 

 when planted. 



Prairie Bean. — Rev. W. Wilks showed specimens of a leguminous 

 plant from Kansas, remarkable for flowering before the leaves appear. 

 They were referred to Mr. Nicholson. 



Paris with variable number of Leaves. — Mr. Odell showed several 

 flowering stems with five leaves instead of four. The number is constant 

 on the plant. The late Prof. J. S. Henslow wrote a paper on " The 

 Varieties of Paris quadrifolia, considered with respect to the ordinary 

 Characteristics of Monocotyledonous Plants" (Loudon's Mag. Kat. Hist. 

 vol. v. p. 429, 1832). 



Kleinia. — Mr. Odell showed specimens of this South African plant, in 

 illustration of its climbing habit. 



Peperoma. — Mr. Odell brought specimens of a minute species from 

 Burmah. 



Bulbs pierced by Couch Grass. — Miss Willmot, V.M.H., forwarded 

 specimens in which the couch had penetrated quite through the bulbs 

 from one side to the other. The process is described by M. A. Prunet as 

 being done by a ferment secreted by the tip of the rhizome, (" Sur la 

 perforation des tubercules de pomme de terre," Bcv. Gen. de Bot., avec 

 illustrations). 



Plum with foliaccous Calyx. — Mr. Hooper showed some blossoms of a 

 Victoria Plum with small but distinctly leaf-like sepals. 



Nectarine-Peach. — Dr. Masters received a fruit from Mr. Rivers, one- 

 third of the skin being that of a Nectarine, and the rest that of a Peach. 

 It came from a Peach tree raised from the stone of a Nectarine many 

 years ago. 



Sugar Pea.— Mr. Eckford sent examples of this Pea, remarkable for 

 its semi-succulent, edible pod, known in France as " Pois sans parchemin." 

 It has produced three varieties, cultivated in France. 



Poon-yet Besin. — Dr. Cooke, V.M.H., read the following account of this 

 resinous-like substance made by bees in trees in Burmah : — "A curious 

 resin, called Poon-yet, or Pwai-ngyet, with a history, is to be met with in 

 Burmah, of which I gave a detailed description in my ' Report on the 

 Gums and Resins in the India Museum ' (1874), much of which, being- 

 historical, I need not repeat. Mason says, ' There are several species of 

 bees that are characterised by building their nests in the cavities of trees. 

 The wax of one species is dark coloured, cf the consistence of resin, and is 

 much used by the Burmese in calking boats.' Some years after the 

 above was written the Rev. C. S. Parish sent specimens of this substance, 

 called Pwai-ngyet, with several of the insects to Mr. F. Smith of the 

 British Museum, who identified the latter with Trigona Iceviceps, first sent 

 from Singapore. From subsequent accounts we learn that 1 the Trigona 

 laiviceps builds its nest generally in the hollow of a tree, entering by a 

 small aperture. These apertures are lined with Pwai-ngyet, and some- 



