464 
Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 
Melianthus being usually considered as an anomalous form of Zy~ 
gophyllece, the question presents itself, to what natural class this last 
order is to be referred ? Is it also to be admitted simply as a tribe 
of Rutacece (as defined by the Jussieus), or shall we follow Mr. Ro- 
bert Brown in considering it as an independent order ? The author 
not only declares in favour of the latter opinion, but expresses his 
belief that while, on the one hand, Diosmece (including Rutetc, Dios- 
mea proper, Zanthoxylea Aurantiacece) , together vf 'ith. SimarubecB 
and Meliacece, constitute a natural class, so, on the other hand, Zygo- 
phyllece, Oxalidea, ConnaracecB, Leguminosre and Moringece are closely 
connected into one group, not only by their general structure and 
facies, but by the common tendency of their compound leaves to 
periodical sleep, or occasionally to movement under an irritating in- 
fluence, a physiological pha'nomenon connected with the structural 
fact of the articulation of the foliole with the petiole on which it 
moves. 
Neither of the two natural classes just mentioned admits, in the 
opinion of the author, the new order of Melianthece. 
The pinnate leaves, irregular flowers, excentric and incomplete 
disc placed outside of the stamens, the quaternary proportion * of 
these organs in contrast with the quinary division of the calyx, the 
occasional cohesion of two of the sepals, the close analogy of the 
follicular capsule of Diplerisma with that of Cardiospermum^ and of 
the coriaceous fruit and arillate seeds of Bersamece with the corre- 
sponding parts in Paullinia, and the fact of a species of Natalia being 
justly named Paullirdoides, are the points by which the close affinity 
of Melianthece with Sapindacece are traced out. Thus by the know- 
ledge of very recent materials (Bersama and Natalia being both but 
lately discovered) are confirmed the views which Adanson expressed 
upon the affinities of Melianthus, when, in his otherwise rather hete- 
rogeneous family of Gerania, he placed that singular genus between 
Cardiospermum and Geranium. 
After some other general considerations, the author concludes with 
a review of the geographical distribution of Melianthece, the most 
striking fact mentioned being the occurrence of Melianthus Hima- 
layanus. Wall., in the mountains of northern India, while its only 
congener, the well-known major, L., does not exceed the 
limits of the flora of the Cape of Good Hope. 
BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 
April 13, 1848. — Rev. Dr. Fleming, President, in the Chair. 
1. “ Notes of Shropshire Rubi,” by the Rev. Wm. A. Leighton, 
B.A. 
The species noticed in this communication, w^hich is the first of a 
series, were Ruhus idceus, suberectus, fissus [¥\. Shrop.), plicatus (W. 
et N.), affinis (W. et N.), and nitidus (W. et N.). 
2. “ On the Reproduction of Cryptogamic Plants,” by the late 
* Bersama must here be excepted, because of its five stamens. 
