them to botanists, and by supplying lecturers with specimens for demonstration. M. Gérard maintained that it was Lemna arrhiza, but we were inclined to think that it was most likely only a very young state of Lemna minor, for the difference in the fructification between the two plants had not then been described; and though M. Gérard had brought me Lemna minor in flower, the Lemna arrhiza was not in that state, or at least the stamens were not to be seen when I received it.-Yours, etc.,

J. E. GRAY.

VEGETABLE PRODUCTS OF THE TOCUYO RIVER.

There are several species of indigenous Palms, and one, the Cocoanut, is cultivated to some extent. Nearly all the houses are thatched with the leaves of the Palma redonda (Copernicia tectorum), and from the same material straw hats are made. An excellent beverage, resembling champagne, and quite as intoxicating, is made of the Palma or Corozo de vino (Acrocomia sclerocarpa) by felling the trunk, and cutting a hole just below the crown of the leaves. When I was at Guadima, the people had cut down several of these spiny Palms in order to supply themselves with "wine" for the Easter holidays. More useful still is the Mapora, or Cabbage Palm (Oreodoxa oleracea), which attains sixty feet in height, and is one of the leading trees on the banks of the Tocuyo. The young leaves yield an excellent cabbage, which is so highly esteemed in the West Indies, where the tree has become scarce, that they are sent as acceptable presents from one island to another. The full-grown leaves are used for thatching, but by far the greatest value of this Palm consists in the wood, which is esteemed in Venezuela for shingling. A full-grown tree, I am told, will often yield 100 planks (each 6-7 varas long and 1 inch thick), and 100 of these planks sell, on the banks of the river, for 36s., and in Porto Cabello for £3 or £3. 15s. One of the most common trees is the Mora (Broussonetia, or Morus tinctoria), which yield the dyewood known as Fustic in commerce. A ton of this wood brought to the river bank is paid for in Tocuyo at the rate of £1. 4s. (8 pesos del pays), and fetches in Liverpool from £5 to £6. It is a quickly growing tree of middle size, only the heart of which is used, and the fruit is eaten by the children. Guayacan (Guaiacum officinale) is found in

considerable abundance. It is sold on the banks of the river for 158. the ton, and at San Miguel de Tocuyo for £1. 1s. to £1. 4s. per ton. The tree yielding the so-called "Balsam of Tolu" (Myrospermum toluiferum) is sufficiently common to be of commercial importance. The natives call it "Balsamo," and attach great value to the resin obtained from the pods. The resin exuding from the stem now sells in London at the rate of 4s. per pound. An allied species, known as Sereipo in the country (Myrospermum frutescens), is equally common. The balsam produced by this tree is entirely neglected. The wood has, however, been exported; and Mr. Polly, of Porto Caballo, was named to me as one of those who sent considerable quantities of it to Hamburg. The Castor-oil plant, or Tartago (Ricinus communis and R. inermis), is seen about all the settlements, and supplies the inhabitants with oil for their lamps, the wicks of which are made of homegrown cotton. It seems to be the only oil-yielding plant of the district, of which I noticed three distinct varieties. Sarsaparilla (Smilax sp.) is seen wherever the forest is not too thick; and a species of Vanilla (Vanilla sp.), somewhat inferior to the cultivated one, yet sufficiently good for export), is frequently met with, and, to some extent, collected by the natives. In times of scarcity the people make bread of the root-stock of a palm-like plant (Zamia muricata), and they also eat the farinaceous root-stock of a white Water-lily (Nymphæa ampla), which they call "Naya." About Guadima and the upper hills all the streams are full of water-cresses. Crin vegetal, or Vegetable Horsehair (Tillandsia usneoides), covers some of the trees in the greatest profusion, and is used for stuffing sofas, mattresses, cushions, etc. The fruits cultivated are,-nisperos, bananas, plantains, tamarinds, papaws, soursops, breadfruit, cocoa-nut, cacao, coffee, etc. The esculent roots principally grown are,-sweet potatoes, yams, taros, cassava root (two kinds), etc. The only grain I noticed was Indian corn, or maize.— B. Seemann, Report on the Tocuyo Estate of Venezuela, p. 21.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Corona of Narcissus.

Mr. W. G. Smith's views on the morphological nature of the corona of Narcissus, as laid before the Botanical Congress, and subsequently published in the

'Journal of Botany,' coincide very closely with those advanced by Link, Schleiden, and at one time by Gay. Not to occupy your space with well-worn controversial matter, I would again merely refer for the history of the subject to M. Gay's papers, in the 6th and 7th volumes of the Bulletin of the Botanical Society of France,' and to the brief summary that I have prefixed to my former communication on this subject, Journ. of Botany, vol. iii. p. 105.

Considered abstractedly, there is of course no reason why petals should not be provided with appendages, "ligules" as Schleiden calls them, or rather as his translator renders the term; and no reason why they may not become confluent into a "corona." However true this may be in some cases, it is not correct, I believe, in this particular instance. Nor can I agree with Mr. Smith that it is indefensible to account for "the presence of the corona by a duplication or triplication of the perianthial segments, or an imperfect condition of an additional series of stamens or two series." Mr. Smith's words, which I now quote, are very plausible,—so much so, that they will no doubt carry conviction to those who read them without having perused what has been written by others, or who have not investigated the matter for themselves. "There is," says the gentleman to whom I have just referred, “as much reason to suppose the corona an abnormal growth of an additional series of the perianth, when it is petal-like, as it is to suppose it an abnormal condition of another series of stamens, or two series when it bears anthers." Now, on the surface this is so reasonable, that no one could withhold assent; when the relative position, and especially when the anatomical conformation of any supplementary organ coincides with those proper to the petals or to the stamens, as the case may be, it is surely "defensible" to consider such supplementary organ to be a modification of a petal or a stamen, etc.; and so if, in certain flowers, the corona puts on more or less of the appearance of the anther-lobe, one is justified in considering the corona to be a modification of the anther-lobe; the latter is constant and as it were perfect; the former is exceptional, transitional, and rudimentary.

In Mr. Smith's own figures (t. 47. f. 9), I find evidence of a similar structure to that which I myself drew attention. There is in the figure to which I have just referred a stamen whose connective is relatively very large and petal-like and which bears on either margin, near the base, two corona-like processes which I should look on as rudimentary anther-lobes. I do not know whether these have escaped Mr. Smith's notice; if they have done so, he might fairly have considered the supernumerary segment to be an adventitious petal.

As to the term "stipule," every morphologist will admit that under this head several widely-different things have been and are grouped together; and therefore until the true nature of the so-called "petal-stipules" shall be better understood than it is at present, it will be preferable to make use of some general term, such as scales or corona. Not having examined the stigma of Sarracenia in a fresh state, I am hardly in a position to definitely assent to or dissent from the analogy drawn by Mr. Smith between that organ and the leafy stipules of Trifolium, the petal-scales of Silene, or the dilated filaments of Ornithogalum; but I cannot help expressing a surmise that more extended ob

servation will show that the analogy between these several organs is more remote than Mr. Smith seems to consider.

That flowers may and do become "double" by the adventitious development of appendages on their petals by a sort of prolification, or rather by overluxuriant growth (for the term prolification should be strictly confined to those cases in which an adventitious bud is formed), I freely admit, though in none of the treatises on this subject, so far as I am aware, is this mode of doubling alluded to. Mr. Berkeley has seen something of the kind in double Primroses, but I believe most of these cases may more correctly be referred to a modification of the anther structure.

For the present, at least, I consider the explanation of the formation of the corona of Narcissus, as offered by Lindley, Gay, and Morren, to be nearer to the truth than any other yet given, though it is unfortunately not so simple as that offered by Mr. Smith, and indeed has led a writer in a contemporary (probably by an oversight, though it might serve for a pun) to assert that I consider the corona as a series of "mystified stamens"!

MAXWELL T. MASTERS.

Tree-Vegetation of Australia.

As one of the Commissioners for the Intercolonial Exhibition, I am called upon to prepare an essay on the vegetation of all Australia, especially in reference to the resources of the country. As one item of interest, this essay will embrace an enumeration of all the trees of Australia, as far as known, so tabulated that at a glance it may be seen what species are peculiar to each colonial territory. The tree-vegetation, moreover, impresses on each flora its main physiognomy and points largely to its affinity. Thus, no tree of New Zealand is identical with Australian species, and thus a greater discrepancy becomes apparent between the flora of New Zealand and Australia than between that of India and our continent. If lists of the trees of any part of the globe could be carefully and extensively compiled, undoubtedly very many interesting data, not only for phytogeography, but also for industry and commerce, would be obtained. I am, etc.,

Melbourne, 26th February, 1866.

FERDINAND MUELLER.

Callitris (Frenela) Parlatorei, F. Muell.

This new coniferous tree was recently discovered by Walter Hill, Esq., the Director of the Botanic Garden of Brisbane, at the Darlington Range of Queensland, where it attained a height of fully 60 feet. In its character it approaches nearest to Callitris Gunnei and C. fruticosa. It shows the coarse foliage of both, but the partitions of the branchlets are shorter than in C. Gunnei. From the latter, moreover, this new species is readily recognized by the pointed fruit-valves, which are quite of equal length. From Callitris fruticosa it differs besides in having no protuberances on the dorsal apex of the valves.

Callitris actinostrobus (F. M., Essay on the Pl. of the Burdek. Exp. 19) is also closely allied to this new congener, so far as the equally 6-valved fruit is concerned; but the number of seeds remove the Sandarock Pine from the section Actinostrobus of Callitris, and bring it to the Frenela group. The seeds, not seen ripe, are seemingly 2-winged. The species is to bear the name of the illustrious Italian phytologist, who is now engaged in working up the noble coniferous Order for De Candolle's great work.

Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, 17th May, 1866.

FERDINAND MUELLER.

P.S. It seems not to be generally known that all true Frenelas not unfrequently produce some 3-winged seeds.

Darlingia, a New Genus of Proteaceæ.

Among several new genera which I have recently described, is one from N.E. Australia, belonging to Proteacea and closely allied to Knightia, with which it has a 4-seeded carpel in common. The wings however surround the whole seed, the latter resembling those of Cardwellia. The latter genus has however pendulous, very numerous seeds, the direction of the raphe very different, and the radicle lateral. The disposition of the flowers of the new genus, on which I bestowed the name Darlingia, is spicate. As long as the seeds of Knightia strobilina remain unknown, I should not feel justified to consociate my plant with Labillardière's; and, though in Orites species with half-winged and entirely winged seeds exist, I prefer to keep the Australian plant distinct as a genus until further comparisons can be instituted. Meanwhile the plant has passed to some museums as Knightia (Eucarpha) Darlingia, and to some as Darlingia spectatissima. The style is deciduous, but that character is of no avail in Grevillia. Yours, etc.,

FERDINAND MUELLER.

February 24, 1866.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Firenze:

Le Specie dei Cotoni descritte da FILIPPO PARlatore. Stamperia Reale, 1866. 4to, 64 pp. (with Atlas of 6 folio plates in chromolithography.)

When Barker Webb bequeathed his magnificent library and herbarium to the fair city of Florence, he provided at the same time ample funds for keeping them up. Every botanical periodical, every new publication, and every new collection of importance was at once to be added to the accumulated treasures. Florence was at that time merely the capital of Tuscany, and the funds were vested in the Grand Duke,