SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
515 
by its orange-red colour, and especially by its unusual motion, completing 
tbe diameter of the sun in nearly five hours.” Mr. Steinheibel was no 
novice at solar observations, having pursued those phenomena for many 
years. The missing nebula above pointed out by Sir John Herschel has 
been found by M. Chacornac (on April 19). It may, however, have been 
invisible when looked for by M. D’ Arrest. Mr. Dawes has frequently 
observed the shadow of Titan on Saturn’s disc. That satellite will pass 
over the planet on July 4, 7.30 p.m. ; July 20, 6.47 p.m. ; and August 5, 
6.3 p.m. (these are the approximate times of ingress). He thinks it may be 
seen by a five-foot telescope of four inches aperture. 
W Upas Tree.— Dr. Berthold Seeman describes a sixth species of 
Upas, met with in Fiji, which is not, however, absolutely new, though 
now accurately described for the first time. It appears to have been originally 
discovered by Dr. George Bennett, of Sydney, after whom it is now named 
AntiarisBennettii. Though poisonous, its properties are not such as are ascribed 
to the deadly Upas of Java, and it is remarkable that it always appears in a 
cultivated state, no truly ■wild plants having been found either by Bennett or 
Seeman. It is usually found planted in the neighbourhood of temples, and 
from the surpassing beauty of its foliage and fruit, it is suggested as a probable 
future inmate of European conservatories. 
New Species of Cleroclendron. — The advantages derived from the use of 
Ward’s cases in transmitting plants from tropical countries are well illustrated 
by the success with which the above plant, Clerodenclron Thomson®, has been 
cultivated in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. It is a verbenaceous, shrubby, 
twining plant from Old Calabar, whose showy flowers, having a white calyx 
and crimson corolla, and growing in numerous clusters, render it a desirable 
addition to conservatories. It is described, with a plate by Professor Balfour, 
in the Edinburgh New Philosophical J ournal for April. 
Nardoo Plant. — The fate of the Burke and Wills exploring party in Aus- 
tralia, which started at the end of December, 1860, with the intention of 
crossing to the Gidph of Carpentaria, has caused so much interest and sym- 
pathy, that the above plant has excited considerable attention from its asso- 
ciation therewith. When nearly exhausted, the party sought the assistance 
of the native blacks, wdio gave them some “ pounded Nardoo seed.” The 
Nardoo plant was afterwards discovered by them, but the collecting and 
pounding of the seed was too much for their reduced strength. Although, 
however, the blacks live so much upon Nardoo seed, it does not appear 
to have been sufficient sustenance for European constitutions, for notwith- 
standing a plentiful supply, Wills expired. Some of the seeds found by his 
side have reached this country, and an attempt to cidtivate them will be 
made at the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. The Nardoo appears to be a spe- 
cies of Marsilea, or Pepperwort, probably Marsilea quadrifolia, a crypto- 
gamic plant, allied to the Lycopodiace®. 
Vegetable Types . — The predominance of these types in Eastern America 
and Eastern Asia, as compared with the few restricted to Europe and Africa, 
BOTANY. 
