NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



333 



the genus Chamcerops, but deserves to be placed in a distinct genus. 

 The author has grown one for some years in the open ground near 

 Florence, and it has attained an extraordinarily vigorous growth. It 

 has formed a number of underground shoots, which have sent up a large 

 crown of leaves ; the latest unfolded measures 1 m. 35 cm. (4 ft. 5 in.) 

 from the top of the stalk to the end of the median segments. The 

 fronds resemble those of Hyphcene thebaica : they are of an intense 

 glaucous colour and coriaceous texture, and although fan-shaped they 

 are not very rigid. There are various forms of the plant, due perhaps 

 to the wide extent of country in the arid regions of Western India, as 

 in Sind, and beyond the Indus, over which it may be found ; it is a 

 native of Afghanistan, Punjab, and Beluchistan. The seeds, which he 

 has received both from India and Fez, are variable, some being spherical, 

 others oval, some 8 mm. ( T 3 n of an inch), others 16 mm. ( T 7 ^ of an inch) 

 in diameter. The seed is very hard, with homogeneous albumen, with 

 a small cavity in the centre. It is xerophilous and of slow development ; 

 it will withstand low temperatures. 



W. C. W. 



Nepenthes Rajah. By W. B. Hemsley (Bot. Hag. tab. 8017).- 

 Nat. ord. Nepenthacecs ; Borneo. A terrestrial shrub, 4 ft. high. Leaves 

 5-6 ft. long. Pitchers with capacity of 2 quarts, about half as wide as 

 long, wings fringed. Collar broad, inner margin pectinate, purple. 



G. H. 



Nepenthes, The Pitchers of. By W. B. Hemsley (Gard. Chron. 

 No. 956, p. 241, Apl. 22, 1905, and No. 957, Apl. 29, 1905).— An abstract 

 is given in this article of a paper on the structure of the pitcher in various 

 species of Nepenthes, which was read before the Linnean Society. 

 Mention is made of the fact that Sir Joseph Hooker was the discoverer of 

 the carnivorous nature of the pitchers. After describing the nature and 

 the structure of the pitchers, those of different species are described ; they 

 differ considerably in size and form. Those of N. rajah are the largest ; 

 they are sometimes of such a size that they are capable of containing two 

 quarts. Like those of other species, the interior of the pitcher is lined 

 with glands which secrete a digestive fluid ; it is calculated that in this 

 species there are no less than 4,000 of these glands to the square inch, 

 so that the number of them must be enormous. The under side of the 

 lid, the collar, and various other parts of the plants bear glands which 

 secrete a sweet fluid which attracts various insects, many of whom fall 

 into the pitchers and are killed, and digested by the fluid which they 

 contain. The number of insects which meet with their deaths in this 

 manner is very considerable. It is mentioned that in a pitcher of 

 N. Hookeri which was under observation seventy-three cockroaches were 

 caught within a fortnight ; it was emptied three times during that period. 



G. S. S. 



Nieotiana forgetiana. By W. B. Hemsley (Bot. Mag. tab. 8006). 

 Nat. ord. Solanacece, tribe Cestrinea ; Brazil. An annual herb, 2-3 ft. 

 high. Corolla with a crimson limb, 1 in. diameter. — G. H. 



