r 



CONTRIBUTIOIS'S TO THE IIISTORr OF CERTAIN CONIFERS. 201 



a distinct genus intermediate between the Spruces and the 

 Silvers. 



Athrotaxis laxifolia, Hook. 



Athrotaxis laxifolia, Hook, Ic. PL t. 573 ; Lond, Journ. Bot. iv. 

 p. 449; FL Tasman. p. 354; Parlatore in DC. Prod. ivi. pars ii. 

 p. 434 ; Ilasters in Oard. Chron, Nov. 7, 1885, p. 584. 



Of this species, originally described by Sir Joseph, then 

 Dr., Hooker, Parlatore writes, I. c. : — " Species in plantis vivis 

 melius illustranda." In truth, the figure heretofore published 

 (destitute of cones) and the descriptions given were not sufficient 

 to enable the botanist to decide whether^, laxifolia y^^^ entitled 

 to specific rank, or whether it was not better to consider it a mere 

 form of ^. cupre^soides^ or perhaps an intermediate between that 

 species and A. selaginoides. The evidence now available would 

 rather lead to the notion that although all three may be deriva- 

 tives from one form, they are now sufficiently differentiated to be 

 kept distinct. A. laxifolia^ as the name implies, has the leaves 

 not so closely appressed in the other two species, and different 

 also in shape. The cones are subglobose, the scales spirally 

 arranged, each with a long stalk-like portion, dilated above 

 into a thickened club-shaped extremity, from the dorsum of 

 which proceeds an ovate acute, up-turned, originally leafy pro- 

 cess. The seeds are roundish, provided with a deep wing on 



either side. 



The specimen figured (woodcut, fig. 26) was obtained from the 



collection of John Eashleigh, Esq., Menabilly, Cornwall. 



The species of Athrotaxis may be compared with the figures of 



Walchia imhricata, Schimper* (Permian), and especially with 



EcTiinostrohus Sternhergii from the lower 'Cretaceous beds. 



Cephalotaxus pedunculata, Siebold Sf Zucc. 



Cephalotaxus pedunculata, Sielold and Zuccarini, Flor. Jajpon. 



• ■ 



Endlich 



Mast 



tune 



1 y 



Of this species, only the male plant is described by authors ; 

 but if I am correct in my determination, some of the female 

 plants called in gardens C. Fortunei really belong here. Seeds 



Cours 



L4, Echinostrobus, 



LINK. JOUEN. — BOTANr, VOL. XXII. E 



