OBSERVATIONS ON SOME OF THE PLANTS EXHIBITED. 487 
without any crossing, viz. compactus and densissimus. They 
were exhibited by Mr. May. 
It is an interesting species in that the true nature of the 
cluster of needle-like structures, which issue from the stem 
where the leaf arises (this being reduced to a minute scale) in 
the garden Asparagus, has been disputed, viz. as to whether 
they represent leaves or branches. In the present species they 
appear as true, flat but narrow leaves; so that it thus throws 
light upon the analogous structures in the common Asparagus. 
Begonia Socoteana Hybbids.— A new race was exhibited 
by Mr. Yeitch, procured by crossing B. Socotrana with tuberous 
Andean Begonias. B. ‘ Gloire de Lorraine,’ a hybrid of similar 
origin, was exhibited for comparison; but this, though very 
floriferous, is small-flowered ; whereas Mr. Yeitch’s new race 
resemble ordinary Begonias. Their especial value consists in 
their flowering at the present time, having acquired the natural 
habit of B. Socotrana in this respect. Again, they are entirely 
male, the result being that the flowers remain on till they are 
quite withered. The particular specimen of ‘ Gloire de Lorraine ’ 
shown was the first on which a female flower had been detected. 
Deac^ena Godseffiana. —This monocotyledonous plant is 
remarkable for its mimetic character, an ordinary form of 
Draccena having long leaves; and if they be variegated, the colour¬ 
less parts are in stripes on the leaf; but in this species, which 
comes from the west coast of Africa, the leaves are oval and 
spotted with yellow, thus closely imitating the dicotyledon 
Aucuba japonica. The leaves are, of course, curvinerved, 
and not reticulated as in that plant. 
Aeistolochia gigas, var. oenithocephala.— Mr. Henslow 
described the peculiar method of fertilisation by insects of the 
flowers of this genus, as recorded in Sachs’ “ Text Book of 
Botany,” figs. 488, 489, p. 910. 
Naecissus vibidifloeus.— Besides the last-named plant, 
Mr. Kings well, of Harrow Weald, sent a flower of this rare green- 
flowered Narcissus. Its native countries are Spain and Barbary, 
and it was first introduced into this country, according to Paxton, 
in 1629. It is an autumn-flowering species. 
Oxalis ceenata. —Mr. C. Herrin, of Dropmore, sent some 
yellow orange-skinned tubers of this plant, a native of Peru, 
where it is known as 09 a. It was first introduced some forty 
