dx PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Change of Sex in Plants. —Key. G. Henslow exhibited drawings 
of —(1) Abnormal flowers of Ranunculus auricomus, in which the 
tendency to produce male structures had affected the carpels on 
the one hand and the petals on the other. Some of the carpels 
were open with extruded ovules, but others bore two anther-cells 
but no ovules. The petals presented various degrees of 
“staminody,” hearing imperfect anther-cells on their margins. 
Some petals were sepaloid in being green with a yellow border, 
while on the other hand the sepals were partially petaloid. 
(2) Pistils of Salix , mostly open and with one or two anther-cells 
in place of ovules, which latter were rarely present and then 
only single, and in an abortive state. (3) Parts of flowers of a 
double but polypetalous polyanthus. One pistil was open, 
partially petaloid and antheriferous at the same time. Another 
exhibited a prolongation at the base which bore ovules, and 
seemed to confirm Van Tighem’s view that the free-central 
placenta of Primula is constructed out of “heel-like” projections 
from the carpels, and is therefore probably carpellary 0 
Arrest of Growth in the Wing of a Moth. —Mr. Webb showed a 
moth hatched by him in which one of the wings remained limp 
after death, owing to the disunion of the upper and lower surfaces 
of the wing, and the intervention of a thin layer of fluid which 
shifted in position as the wing was moved, producing, in fact, a 
dropsical condition of the wing. 
FLORAL COMMITTEE. 
First-class Certificates were awarded to Pelargoniums (deco¬ 
rative) “ Maid of Kent ” and 11 Nellie Hayes," from Messrs. J. 
and J. Hayes; to Gloxinia “ Yakoob Khan" ; Cattleya Mac 
Morelandii , and Begonia “ Mrs. Arthur Potts," from Messrs. J. 
Yeitch and Sons; to Imantophyllum concinnum, and Oclina 
multiflora (as a decorative plant), from Mr. B. S. Williams; 
to Begonias “ J. H. Laing,” “ Marie Bouchet," and “ Clovis ,” 
from Messrs. J. Laing and Co. ; to Saxifraga Wallacei, from 
Messrs. Dicksons and Co., and to Begonia “ Souvenir de Gand ,” 
from Messrs. Osborn and Sons. 
Cultural Commendations to Dendrobium Falconeri, from Mr. W. 
Fisher (gardener to F. Williams, Esq.), and to Seedling Pansies, 
from Mr. L. J. Fleming. Votes of Thanks to Mr. J. Burnett 
(gardener to Mrs. Hope), for Choretis glauca ; to Mr. W. Fisher 
