The affinity of Stangeria is very close to Encephalartos, nor is 
there any structural difference of importance between the fruc- 
tifications of these genera; in habit and foliage, on the other 
hand, they widely differ, and most conspicuously in the short, 
turnip-like stem of Stangeria, that bears no persistent bases of 
the fallen leaves, in its few terminal leaves, and in the Fern-like 
venation of its pinne. This difference between the venation of 
the pinnee of Hncephalartos and Stangeria is very analogous to 
that between the species of Podocarpus with Dammara-like 
foliage, and those whose leaves have a midrib. 
Mr. Smith, in his paper.on Sfangeria, after showing that. 
Stangeria paradoxa was first referred to Lomaria coriacea of 
Schrader by Kunze, in the Linnea, and that he subsequently 
made a new species of it as Z. eriopus, also in the Linnea, gives 
some valuable remarks on the venation of the frond of this and 
other Cycadee. I have hitherto had no opportunity of examin- 
ing a caudex of this singular plant, but I find the vascular bundles 
_ of the leaves to be formed of annular ducts surrounded by elon- 
gated cells, and also that there is a thick layer of wood-cells 
immediately below the cuticle of the stipes. The cuticle of the 
under surface of the pinne abounds in large stomata, and the 
cuticular cell-walls are much undulated. Globular white concre- 
tions with granulated surfaces, occur abundantly in the cellular 
tissue of the stipes, and are probably composed of oxalate of lime. 
Desor. Caudew about a foot long, tapering to the base, and 
terminating in a few roots; contracted at the apex, and there 
giving off three to six leaves. Bracts few, imbricating, broadly 
ovate, blunt, woolly. Leaves spreading, two feet long by one 
broad, glabrous except at the woolly base of the petiole. Leaflets 
about twelve pair, opposite, the lower petiolulate, the upper sessile, 
with a broad, adnate, decurrent base, smooth, glossy, bright- 
green; margin serrated beyond the middle, slightly thickened, 
plnnately veined. Veins reaching the margin, all free. J/ale cone 
on a long, terete peduncle, six inches long by one and a quarter 
broad, blunt; apices of scales woolly, trapeziform. Azthers 
very numerous, yellow. Female cones similar to the males, but 
much shorter, about two to three inches long. Scales similar to 
the males externally, but shorter, more concave, broadly ovate 
when looked at on the inside, with two minute deep cavities on 
either side of the insertion, in each of which a small, broadly 
obovoid ovule is wholly sunk, its apex only protruding. Ovule 
with a single fleshy coat and contracted micropyle. J. D. H. 
Plate 5121. Right-hand figure, male cones; left, female. Fig. 1.. Portion of 
leaf. - 2. Portion of male cone. 8. Seale of cone and stamens. 4, 5. Anthers. 
6. Pollen. 7. Scale at base of cone. 8. Ripe nut :—all but Fig. 8 magnified. 
