7o 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 
Mr. Dennes then read a Memoir on Polygonum Owenii, 
which on account of its interest he had translated from the 
“ Annales des Sciences Naturelles.” The Secretary also 
communicated “ Notes on Ly thrum Salicaria.” In this 
communication Mr. Dennes alluded to the varieties of 
this plant mentioned by Withering ; and stated that he 
had observed specimens collected near the metropolis, having 
the leaves alternate , opposite, and three in a whorl. The 
plant is usually described as having opposite leaves, at least 
by Hooker. Mr. D. proposed that they should be consi- 
dered as distinct varieties, and named them as follows : — 
Lythrum Salicaria. 
1. a alternifolia. 
2. (3 verticillata. 
Mr. Daniel Cooper exhibited and offered for distribution 
to the members several of the rarer plants found about Rei- 
gate, Surrey, which he had that day expressly collected for 
the purpose : and stated that it was the intention of several 
of the members to collect in a similar way the rarer plants of 
the vicinity of London, and exhibit them at the monthly 
nights of meeting throughout the summer. Mr. C. called 
the attention of the members to specimens of Paris Quadri - 
folia , of which there were plants on the table having from 
three to seven leaves, but in no instance had he observed 
more than five portions of the calyx, and not, as recorded by 
some authors, a division of the calyx for each leaf found 
upon the stem. Mr. Gray noticed a peculiarity in the flower 
of Adoxa Moschatellhia, and expressed his approbation of 
the plan of procuring living specimens of the rarer species 
for distribution at the summer monthly meetings, as it would 
enable many of the members to examine and make such ob- 
servations upon the plants as they might think necessary, 
and who might be prevented from collecting them at the 
] roper period. Among Mr. C/s collection were specimens of 
the early Orchideous plants from the Chalk range of Surrey 
Hills about Reigate, comprising Ophrys apifera, O. musci- 
fera , Orchis ustulata, Plat anther a bifolia , List era ovata, Ace- 
ras anthropophora, fc. Specimens of Leucojum JEstivum 
were also exhibited by the Secretary, which were obtained 
from the old station in Greenwich marshes, opposite Black- 
wall. 
