6 
be of great value for future reference. We are most grateful to him for 
all his help, and also for the presentation of a valuable book on palms 
(acknowledged below). 
A note on a palm which flowered in March, 1935 illustrates some 
of the difficulties of correctly naming exotic plants cultivated in the 
Gardens. The palm is a Livistona, on lawn B, near the main gate. 
It has flowered and fruited several times, at intervals of a few years; 
perhaps only when there is an unusually dry season. Though it is 
rather similar to L. rotundifolia, the commonest Livistona in gardens 
in Singapore, it differs somewhat in habit, and the orange-red fruits 
are larger. There is no record of the origin of the plant. It was 
at first thought that it might be L. Marine, from Australia; but it 
appears more probably to be L. Robinsomana from the Philippines, 
seeds of which were introduced from Negros m 1909. If a record of 
the origin of the plant had been kept, the determination of its correct 
name would have been much simplified. All woody plants now planted 
out in the Gardens are recorded on a card index with 
a reference to the accession register, so that the origin and date of 
planting can be ascertained. 
Mr. E. J. H. Corner continued his investigations of the larger 
fungi, but most of his time was spent on other work. At the request 
of the Inspector of Schools, Mr. Corner conducted a series of twenty 
evening classes on Malayan Plant Life for teachers in Singapore 
schools. This course was very successful, and those taking part 
showed considerable interest. In connection with the classes, 
Mr. Corner made a number of investigations of common local plants, 
and prepared a quantity of notes, drawings and photographs which it 
is hoped to use in a series of publications of a popular and semi- 
popular nature on local plants. In particular, Mr. Corner investi¬ 
gated the seedling stages of a number of different plants, showing a 
surprising variety of development. He prepared a large series of 
excellent drawings, which it is hoped to publish; the information will 
not only be an interesting addition to botanical knowledge, but will 
also be an introduction to Malayan plant biology suitable for local 
residents. It is hoped to treat similarly other aspects of plant 
biology. Mr. Corner also made a very fine series of photographs of 
the leaves, flowers and fruits of common local trees, and prepared 
notes for a popular work on the subject which it is hoped to publish 
in 1937. 
The Director prepared a paper on the tree-ferns of the Malay 
Peninsula, of which there are 16 species; a small number in com¬ 
parison with Sumatra and Borneo. Since the paper was published 
another species has been recognised at Penang, closely allied to the 
common lowland tree-fern Cyathea latebrosa but distinct. The 
distinction is most notable in the bases of the stipes, a feature often 
lacking in herbarium specimens; this again illustrates the necessity 
for field observation for a full knowledge of plants. The Director 
also began a study of the genus Lomagramma, an interesting group of 
climbing ferns; specimens from the herbaria at Buitenzorg and 
Manila were borrowed, to enable the study to be made as complete as 
possible. A chapter on the Ecology of Pteridophytes was also pre¬ 
pared for a general work on pteridophytes edited by Dr. Verdoorn of 
Leiden. 
