120 MR. W. C, WORSDELL ON THE 
and Cycas. "These structures are the first beginnings and foundations of the later-formed 
extrafascicular rings. 
5. In the male peduncle of Encephalartos lanuginosus, Lehm., occurs a replica of the 
structure, although in a more ancient and primitive form (in aecordance with the more 
primitive character of the organ producing it), of the vegetative stem. ‘This consists of 
extrafascicular strands, most of which, either by their curved contour or by the 
occurrence of inner inverted portions of their tissue, indicate a much nearer approxi- 
mation to the ancestral Medullosean structure than the same rings occurring 
throughout the greater part of the vegetative axis. 
6. A section of the root of Cycas Seemanni, Al. Br., passing through the region of 
the primary node exhibits, in three of the extrafascicular rings, very distinet and palpable 
vestiges (of which in Macrozamia Fraseri, Miq., only slight, and not altogether 
unequivocal, traces were found) of the inner portions of those rings having inverted 
orientation of their parts. 
Another section of the stem exhibits the first extrafascicular ring in the form of a zone 
of sparsely-scattered circular concentric strands in place of the ordinary collaterally- 
constructed ring. These concentric strands normally occur, in all species of Cycas, as 
the outermost of the extrafascicular rings. 
7. The genera Zamia and Dioon belong to the mono-cylindric type of Ceratozamia 
and Stangeria, in showing a complete absence of any extrafascicular rings in the 
vegetative axis. 
In eonclusion, 1 would add that the present paper, as also other treatises of mine on 
the same subject, have been written with two main objects in view, viz. :—(1) To contribute 
towards a clear and precise knowledge of the vegetative structure of the Cycadace:e, 
which group of plants is, on quite other grounds, attracting considerable attention in 
the botanieal world of today. (2) To point out, by means of that knowledge of the 
structure, the probable phylogenetie relationship and line of descent of these plants. 
This latter must ever be one of the most important and worthy objects of all botanical 
study, and it is remarkable that in these plants the anatomical structure per se should 
demonstrate that relationship to such a great extent. 
I desire to express my thanks to the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, and in 
particular to the Assistant-Curator, Mr. W. Watson, and also to Mr. W. G. Groves, of 
Windermere, for their kindness in supplying me with a portion of the material for 
these investigations. 
