Journal of Proceedings. 
xci 
opposite, like the leaves upon the stem, but in that the sub-terminal 
flower has a pair of bracts upon the stalk below the calyx which indicates 
the capacity of such a stalk for branching. 
Panicles formed on the same plan as that of the Traveller’s-joy may 
be found in the Privet, the Lilac, and other plants with woody stems. 
Indeed, the panicle with a terminal flower in the centre, and with 
every branch ending in a flower under which lateral flowers appear in a 
series, which for the most part expand from below upwards (but with a 
reservation to the effect that the lowest flower of all is not therefore to 
be the first in opening), illustrates the general principle which is followed 
in the corymb and the cyme in the Pear, the Elder, and the Laurustinus 
as well as the Sweet William ( Dianthus barbatus), by which this mode of 
inflorescence is brought into close affinity with the truly centrifugal 
system as commonly and correctly described in modern works of botany. 
The genus Dianthus differs from other genera of its order Caryophyllaceaa 
in having’ commonly two pairs of bracts under each flower; an arrange¬ 
ment which almost universally indicates an intermediate, or mixed, form 
of inflorescence as distinguished from either of those well understood 
systems illustrated by the Wallflower and the Campion, or by almost any 
plants of the orders to which these two respectively belong. In these 
plants in which characters resulting from a long career of development 
and differentiation appear constant and fixed, or only changing in 
specimens with abnormal forms, we see resemblances to the less constant 
modes of inflorescence found in the Monkshood and the Buttercup, from 
which we may be justified in the inference that the primary or normal 
form of inflorescence is to be found in the corymbs or panicles of 
apetalous Ranunculaceas to which all other systems appear to be more or 
less nearly related. 
Cordial votes of thanks were accorded to the authors. 
At the Conversazione Mr. H. J. Barnes exhibited a fine collection of 
ferns from New South Wales, and Mr. R. M. Christy’s collection of 
Primulas was again shown, want of time having prevented its due 
examination at the preceding meeting. 
Saturday, December 16th, 1882. —Ordinary Meeting. 
The thirty-fourth Ordinary Meeting was held at the Head-quarters at 
seven o’clock, the President in the chair. 
Donations of books and pamphlets (exclusive of “exchanges”) were 
announced from Mr. R. Meldola, Rev. F. A. Walker, and Mr. W. 
Whitaker. Mr. English presented to the Museum a remarkable light 
aberration of the common Blackbird. Thanks were duly voted for these 
presents. 
The following were elected members of the Club :—Messrs. J. D. Clay, 
Sydney Cortauld, H. W. Knowles, E. G. Law, Edgar T. Lockett, G. N. 
Maynard ( Curator of the Saffron Walden Museum), F. C. J. Spurrell, 
F.G.S., John Stevens, and Thomas Taylor, M.R.C.S. [Pres. Bockinq 
and Braintree Nat. Hist. Soc.). 
