SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 



clxxix 



Scientific Committee, November 17, 1914. 



Mr. E. A. Bowles, M.A., F.L.S., F.E.S., in the Chair, and eleven 

 members present. 



Alien plants. — Mr. J. Fraser, F.L.S., showed dried specimens of 

 Sisymbrium austriacum, a native of Central and S. Europe, closely 

 allied to S. Irio, and of S. pannonicum [S. altissimum), which he had 

 found growing on rubbish heaps. These plants do not, as a rule, 

 maintain themselves for long in a wild state. 



Maize cobs malformed. — Mr. W. C. Worsdell, F.L.S., showed Maize 

 cobs brought from Nyasaland by Mr. E. W. Davy, one of which had 

 three or four narrow lateral cobs arising from the base and growing 

 apparently in the axils of the lower bracts ; the other was curiously 

 fasciated at the apex. The latter was particularly curious, as the 

 common view of the Maize cob is that it arises by fusion of several axes, 

 and the specimen shown might have been expected to exhibit the 

 fasciation throughout its whole length. 



Araucaria imbricata attacked by fungus. — Mr. A. Worsley showed a 

 fruit of the fungus Fomes applanatus from a tree of Araucaria imbricata 

 growing in his garden. The tree had been damaged some years ago 

 near the base, and the fungus had no doubt gained an entrance through 

 the wound. It is a common parasite of Pines. 



Dendrobium Toftii. — A Botanical Certificate was unanimously 

 recommended to Dendrobium Toftii, a native of Queensland, and alUed 

 to D. taurinum, shown by Sir Jeremiah Colman, Bt., V.M.H., referred 

 to this Committee from the Orchid Committee. Its flowers are borne 

 at the apex of a leafy pseudo-bulb. 



Calanthe x Branchii. — This interesting hybrid between the ever- 

 green Calanthe Textori and the deciduous C. x ' Bryan var. Wm. Murray,' 

 was shown by Mr. C. J. Lucas, Warnham Court. Its habit was that of 

 C. Textori, while the inflorescence was like that of its other parent. The 

 broad-leaved growths were swollen at the base. It followed the latter 

 also in the size of its flowers, which were somewhat less bright than 

 those of * Wm. Murray,' but coloured and much larger than those of 

 C. Textori. A Certificate of Appreciation was recommended to Mr. 

 Lucas for the work done in making this interesting cross, and a 

 Botanical Certificate to the plant. 



Seedless fruits of Aegle sepiaria. — Mr. E. A. Bowles showed ripe 

 fruits of Aegle sepiaria which had ripened outdoors, but which, though 

 of normal size, contained no seeds. In ordinary seasons fewer fruits 

 are produced, and they usually fail to ripen outside, but contain good 

 seed, which readily ripens indoors. 



