38 JOURNAL OF THE ROTAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT.. 
OBSERVATIONS ON SOME OF THE PLANTS EXHIBITED. 
By the Rev. Prof. G. Hen&low, M.A., V.M.H., &c. 
[Apiul 10, 1900.] 
Cut -LEAVED Elder. — The foliage of Sambucus. racemosa illustratedl 
an unusual method of an attempt to form a bipinnate leaf. Compound 
leaves are derived from simple ones by first forming lobes, by means of 
incisions more or less deep between the chief lateral ribs. Then, when 
the tissue is completely arrested, quite separate leaflets are formed. In 
the above species of Elder, as in the cut-leaved forms of Coleus, the 
incisions are made by deepening the marginal serratures. 
Hybrid Narcissi.— Besides the Incomparabilis group, formed by 
N. poeticus X N. Pseudo-Narcissus, Mr. Engleheart exhibited forms- 
between N. i)octicus and N. Tazetta which bore the flowers in clusters- 
after the latter species. The purple rim combining with yellow had in 
many cases produced an orange cup. 
Phal.enopsis. — The pollen mass of this genus has a peculiarity 
which has not been hitherto noticed, in that the caudicle or supporting, 
membrane, when the pollinium is first withdrawn, is too long to hit the- 
stigma. It consequently contracts forming a bend in the middle, and so 
shortens the distance. 
Double Azalea. — A Japanese species had the stamens converted 
into a perfect gamopetalous corolla resembling, but distinct from, the 
so-called " hose-in-hose." For in Primroses and Mimulus the calyx is 
in that form converted in a perfect corolla. But in the Azalea the calyx 
was unaltered, though rudimentary as usual, while the second corolla, 
was formed from the stamens only. 
Anemone Coronaria. — Mr. Henslow drew attention to the great 
variety of colours which this species bears in the wild state ; though 
specimens from Malta were always uniformly of a purple-blue colour^ 
illustrations from Palestine showed that it varied from that to pink and 
scarlet. In the Riviera double forms were apparently wild. 
Alpine Plants. — A fine collection exhibited by Mr. Purnell afforded 
material for remarks on this interesting group. The three representative 
genera are Primula, Gentiana, and Saxifraga. Of these we have P. 
farinosa and its probable alpine variety, P. scotica, both with a mealy 
foliage like P. denticulata and others. Of Gentians, G. nivalis of Clora 
Mountains represented the true Alpine types, while several species of 
Saxifrage are found on our own mountains, as well as ThaUctrum 
alimmm, also in Mr. Purnell's collection. 
The peculiarity of some species laying their leaves flat upon the- 
ground, as of Morisia hypogea, was explained as a result of thermo- 
tropism : the recumbent position of the leaf, as well as the prostrate habit 
of the stems of many alpine creeping plants, is caused by the temperature- 
being always higher on the ground than just above it in such localities- 
A similar habit is seen in our own Daisies and Plantains in a tennis, 
lawn. 
