PIIOCKEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
'>1P 
nvithoiit any of those scenes of disturbance of which it has, unfortunately, for 
the last few years been the arena. 
BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 
April 20.—J. E. Gray, Esq., F. R. S., Pres., in the chair.—The Secretary read 
the continuation of his paper, translated from the French of M. De Candolle, 
“ On the geographical distribution of plants used as food.” The memoir included 
various interesting facts relative tothe dispersion, according to climate and temper¬ 
ature, of the graminaceous order, and the uses which they serve in different 
nations.—The President alluded to the recent discovery of a French botanist, in 
the leaves of Kylanium. A number of membranous cylinders were found con¬ 
stantly projecting from each of the spiculse, but afterwards became contracted; 
and, under a powerful microscope, this may even be seen in specimens preserved 
for forty years. The experiment has been repeated with success.—A communi¬ 
cation was read by Mr. T. Hancock, on certain peculiarities in the two species 
of Lamium.^ viz. L. macidatum and L. album. The author s attention was first 
attracted to the subject by his having observed that many specimens of Z. 
maculatum were entirely destitute of the white longitudinal patches on the 
leaves, which are described by some authors as its most important specific 
character. Mr. H. had also seen several specimens with white flowers, and so 
closely resembling L. album as to be with difficulty distinguished from it. From 
these and other circumstances he believes the two plants to be merely varieties of 
the same species. Their near affinity had often been observed by botanists ; but 
no one except Dr. Lindley had ever so arranged them. Mr. H, considered the 
number of , whorls not sufficient to form a specific character, and cited Sir W. J. 
Hooker’s remark respecting the constant purple colour of the flowers, which was 
refuted by his own observation, as well as by that of others. We cannot our¬ 
selves consider the identity of L. album and L. maculatum as proved; the matter 
is one of considerable interest, and can only be determined by following up Mr. 
Hancock’s observations. Mr. H. is of opinion that the garden specimen figured 
and described by Reichenbach as Z. maculatum was really L. purpureum. 
MEDICO-BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 
April 26.—Earl Stanhope, F. R. S., Pres., in the chair.—‘‘ Remarks on the 
Haiowa, and on some kindred species,” by Dr. Hancock, were read. This 
elegant tree inhabits the mountain regions of Guiana, and also near the coast, and 
is highly valued by the natives for its numerous applications in arts and medi¬ 
cine. Dr. H. enumerated its botanical characters, and considered the species 
identical with Icicia heptaphylla of Aublet and De Candolle, and Amyris 
ambrosiaca of Wilde. The fruit, leaves, and bark abound with a sweet odorifer- 
No. 10, Vol. II. 2g 
