GENERA OF TAXACEH AND CONIFER. 21 
ScIADOPITYS. 
This singular genus was published by Siebold and Zuccarini in 
1842, and has undergone no change of position. 
The leaves are of very simple character, being little more than 
leaf-scales, deltoid in form, and somewhat concave. The fibro- 
vascular bundle is either not formed at all, or not till a late 
period. From the axils of some of these leaves arise the 
phylloid shoots or cladodes, which are peculiar to this genus, and 
have given rise to much discussion. The phloem is on the 
upper, the xylem on the lower surface of the vascular bundle, 
contrary to what happens in true leaves. A summary account 
of the structure of this plant, and a résumé of the opinions of 
various authors concerning it, is given in my paper on the com- 
parative morphology of Sciadopitys in the ‘Journal of Botany ’ 
for April 1884, as well as in my former communication to the 
Society. The male flowers are aggregated in dense catkin-like 
masses at the ends of the branches, stamens spirally arranged, 
the anther-crest pointed and surmounting two linear anther-lobes 
which open vertically. The female cones are erect, on the ends 
of short lateral shoots. Bracts partially concrescent with the 
scale, the upper portion of which is thick and cushion-like. 
Ovules numerous, pendulous. Seeds compressed and with a 
narrow wing. Cotyledons two, foliaceous, linear. Primordial 
leaves similar, but smaller and alternate. The only known 
species is a native of Japan. 
ATHROTAXIS. 
This genus, founded by D. Don, dates from 1839, and has been 
adopted by all subsequent writers, the only variation being in 
the spelling of the name, which by some is written Arthrotazis, 
the real orthography being Athrotaxis, from 4aOpdos, crowded. 
The foliage is homomorphic, decussate, passing into spiral. Male 
flowers catkin-like, terminal. Stamens arranged spirally ; anther- 
cells two. The pollen cells are globose or three-sided, with 2 or 
3 bands. The cones are terminal, globose, somewhat woody, 
the constituent scales wedge-shaped at the base, horizontally 
spreading, clavately or somewhat peltately dilated at the apex, 
and with numerous 3-6-winged seeds, pendulous from the thickest 
part of the scale below the apex. The bract is concrescent with 
the scale for the greater part of its length, but is generally 
