FLOOK.] 
DEPAKT]MEKT OF BOTANY. 
43 
tions of the trunk of Xanthobkh(ea arborea, B. Br., one of them 
branched, and a portion of the trunk of another species of Xaxthor- 
KHCEA, from Western Australia. Of the latter there is a transverse 
section on one of the shelves, on which are also a longitudinal section 
of another species, loaded vrith its resinous secretion, a corona of leaf- 
bases similarly loaded, and a circular mass stripped from the stem, 
and consisting almost entirely of the resin. At the back of the case 
is a longitudinal section of the so-called Grass-tree of Western 
Australia, Kingia australis, Bi. Br. ; the tops of three other speci- 
mens, loaded with heads of flowers ; a very young specimen ; and 
another cut longitudinally. On the sides are specimens of six dif- 
ferent species of Vellozia, from Brazil ; and at the back are placed 
specimens of a suffrutescent Ertocaulon, from Brazil; of the great 
•woody rush of South Africa (Prionium palmita, E. Meyer) ; and of 
a remarkable species of Dasypogon [D. Hookeri, Drumm.), from 
Western Australia. There are also in this case specimens of the 
Lechugilla of Mexico, a species of Yucca, the root of which is used 
instead of soap in the washing of dyed woollens, without injury to 
their colours. 
The upper part of Case 9, the last case on the northern side of 
the room, is devoted chiefly to Gramine^, or Grasses, but contains 
also a few other specimens of Monocotyledonous structures. Above, 
at the back, and on one of the sides, are placed inflorescences of the 
genus [Jratsia. At the back of the case are also suspended a garment 
from the coast of Tenasserim, ornamented with the involucres of se- 
veral species or varieties of Coix (commonly called Jobs Tears), the 
elongated forms of which are unknown to botanists, except as attached 
to similar garments ; a monstrous variety, brought from China, of a 
species of Baimboo, in which the lower joints, instead of being long 
and cylindrical, are short and triangular ; and specimens of Arundi- 
naria ScHOMBURGKii, Bcnn., the reed through which small poisoned 
arrows are blown by the native Indian tribes of Guiana, the smooth 
and straight joints often reaching a length of sixteen or seventeen feet. 
On either side are specimens of the light and elegant inflorescence, 
male and female, of Gynerium saccharoides, Humb., a grass of 
Equinoctial America. The floor of the case is occupied by speci- 
mens of the Woods of some remarkable Apetalous trees ; such as the 
great Tree-Xettle of New South Wales (Urtica gtgas, A Cunn.), of 
"which there are two sections, one presenting a very irregular outline, 
and a diameter at the widest part of nearly four feet ; and a section 
of Phytolacca dioica, L. (the Bellasombra of the Spaniards). Both 
this and the Tree-Nettle are remarkable for their rapid growth, loose 
texture, and the number of their concentric rings. There are also 
on the floor sections of the Wood and Bark of the Cork-Oak 
(QuERCus suBER, L.), from the Garden of the Company of Apothe- 
caries at Chelsea. 
The Western Wall, on either side of the doorway, is chiefly oc- 
cupied by specimens of Palms. To the right may be noticed an 
entire trunk, together with longitudinal sections, of the Date-Palm 
