cxlviii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to gravity as a secondary effect. As far as the germination of spores 

 can throw light upon primitive conditions, it has been found that the 

 first cell-plate laid down in the unicellular spore of Ferns and Equisetum 

 is approximately in a plane at right angles to incident light, and that the 

 most illumined half lays the foundation of the stem. Again, the dorsi- 

 ventrality of the prothallium of a Fern, and the development of the 

 rhizoids upon the under side, are determined by different degrees of 

 illumination, and not by gravity. 



Scientific Committee, September 2, 1902. 



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

 Mr. Gaut, of Yorkshire College, Leeds, visitor. 



Phyllotaxis of Aloysia. — Mr. J. W. Odell brought specimens showing 

 variations in the number of leaves to a whorl on different shoots. On 

 the secondary shoots, which resulted from the pinching of the primary 

 one, the leaves were in whorls of three. 



White Lavender.— My. Odell showed flowers of this variety to prove 

 the existence of fragrance in this variety, which had been disputed. 



Double spathe of Itichardia Elliottiana. — Mr. Douglas, V.M.H., 

 brought a specimen of a double spathe in this plant, in itself not an 

 uncommon occurrence, but the spathes in the present examples were 

 remarkable for being deeply pinnately lobed. 



Helianthus 1 Miss MelUsh. 1 — Specimens were exhibited showing the 

 decay and rotting of the root-stock and stem, apparently due to fungus 

 " sclerotia," which were found in the tissues. Dr. Cooke, V.M.H., under- 

 took to report on the specimens on another occasion. 



Peloria in Antirrhinum. — FromHerrLorenz, of Erfurt, came specimens 

 of regular flowers of this plant. The regularity in this case is owing to 

 the increase of the irregular portions, so that there are five spurs instead 

 of one only, and all five stamens are produced in a symmetrical manner, 

 thus constituting it a case of regular Peloria. Herr Lorenz remarks :— 

 " Hitherto Peloria flowers have very seldom been found except as isolated 

 blossoms on a spike of otherwise true Snapdragon flowers. This variety, 

 however, bears the true Peloria flowers almost exclusively, and has to a 

 marvellous degree proved constant, even when grown from seed. Peloria 

 flowers in general are known to be sterile to a very great extent, and in 

 the present case the production of seed is very small. Trials which have 

 been made hitherto with seed from Peloria-flowered Snapdragons have 

 failed to give satisfactory results, as the seedlings almost always reverted 

 to the common Snapdragon form. The variety sent was found four years 

 ago amongst a sowing of the darkest-flowering Snapdragon, named " Black 

 Prince," and has been carefully selected and improved since, so that it 

 now produces 80 per cent- of true Peloria flowers." 



Celery Leaves. — Some specimens were exhibited by Mrs. Langford, of 

 Thrale. They were found to be affected by a fungus allied to PJiyllosticta 

 or Sphcrrclla. 



