General Meeting 13th January 1969 
About 100 members were present and 
Mr. E. R. Allan presided. 
Christmas Greetings cards were dis- 
played from the patron of the club, Sir 
Rohan Delacombe, Mr. Vic. Miller, the 
S.G.A.P., The Fauna Survey Group, and 
Ringwood F.N.C. 
The Secretary announced that he had 
received the annual report of the Benalla 
F.N.C, and the second report of the 
World Wild Life Fund — an excellent 
publication. He had been asked to hand 
it on and spread the idea of Conservation. 
Separate copies could be obtained for $3, 
plus postage. The President read a letter 
from Miss Florence Smith — an honorary 
member — who said she had resolved to 
pay her subscription still, and enclosed 
$7. 
Mr. Allan said the Victorian Cabinet 
had shelved the idea of the proposed 
restaurant in the Botanic Gardens because 
it was too expensive. 
Mr. Hanks introduced the speakers for 
the "Members' Night". 
Mr. P. Curliss discussed "Twins and 
Triplets" from Cassia artemisioides seeds 
which he germinated (after soaking) on 
blotting paper in plastic boxes where they 
were visible. The first to germinate put 
out three rootlets. Then three little shoots 
appeared above. 
Another seed put out two shoots when 
the seed coat was removed, two distinct 
specimens were seen in the same seed 
coat. 
After the cell in the ovule was fertilized 
by the pollen nucleus, the first divisions 
of it must have separated to produce dis- 
tinct and separate embryo plants. One of 
the twins or triplets grew larger than 
the others. 
Miss J. Forse showed examples of 
animal specimens preserved and prepared 
in a new way. 
A small fish (after scaling) was soaked 
in alcohol, then in 1% potassium hy- 
droxide for a week, making the flesh 
transparent. Then it was put in a dye to 
show the bones, and then in glycerine. 
The bones all showed up as clear red. A 
Japanese salamander (a prohibited im- 
port) was kept in the potassium hydroxide 
for 8 weeks before dyeing. 
Fatty specimens are soaked in acetone 
first to get rid of fat. 
Mr. A. H. Fairhall spoke of summer 
flowering native plants. He said that 2i 
years ago the Council had appointed him 
to represent the club on the Committee 
of Maranoa Gardens, and for the first 
time he had asked a favour for some 
specimens to illustrate the talk. Most of 
the exiamples belong to Proteaceae and 
Myrtaceae. 
Of the Proteaceae, grevilleas showed 
bright colours including Grevillea robus- 
ta (silky oak), G. hilliana (white silky 
oak), G. sericea, G. banksii, G. aspleni- 
jolia, the hybrid G. poorinda Constance, 
and 18 other species of Grevillea. 
Two banksias, Banksia serrata (Saw 
Banksia) and B. speciosa (W.A.), Cono- 
spermum mitchellii and a blue one from 
W.A., Lamb&rtia formosa (Mountain 
devil or honey flower) N.S.W., Lomatia 
ilicifoUa, L. longifolia, L. frazeri, and 
the N.S.W. L. silaifolia (Wild Parsley), 
Hakea multilineata, Persoonia pinif alius, 
Stenocarpus sinuatus which has been 
flowering since the nature show. 
Of Myrtaceae, many melaleucas flower- 
ed in summer including Melaleuca hyperi- 
cifolia, M. laterita, M. longicoma, M. 
nematophylla, M. nesophila, M. thymi- 
folia, M. pulchella, M. erubescens, M. 
squarrosa, M. ericifolia, M. pubescens, M. 
styphelioides, M. linariifolia, Callistemon 
speciosus, C. phoenicius, C. sieberi, Calo- 
thamnus quadrifidus, Chamaelaucium 
uncinatum, Darwinia citriodora, Eucalyp- 
tus ficifolia, E. torquata, E. tetraptera, 
E. desmondensis, Kunzea sericea, Rege- 
lia inops, Astartia fascicularis, A. hede- 
r anther a, Baeckea virgata, Leptospermum 
citratum, Beaufortia sparsa, B. erioce- 
phala. 
Species of other families included 
Istoma axillaris, Bursaria spinosa, Bra- 
chychiton populneus, Westringia glabra, 
Viola hederacea, Anigozanthos jlavida, 
A. pulcherima, A. rufa. 
Most of the above were exhibited in 
flower. 
Mr. A. J. Swaby spoke of modifications 
of the carrot family — Umbelliferae (or 
Apiaceae), and these were illustrated by 
projected slides — the family having typi- 
cally a compound umbel and the two 
fruitlets (mericarps) pressed together. 
The little native carrot and the Alpine 
celery (Aciphylla), the Trachymene 
humilis on the high plains, the flannel 
flower with its tightly packed umbels 
surrounded by flannel-like bracts, the 
little water plant, Hydrocotyle muscosa, 
the Southern Cross plant of W.A., and 
the "blue devil" all showed umbels. 
An extreme modification in the Rose 
family was illustrated by the bidgee 
56 
Vict. Nat.— Vol. 86 
