CONIFERAE 1 7 1 



Both theories agree about the 3 fl., which is usu. a cone or catkin 

 of sta. on a central axis. The sta. may be flat, but is commonly 

 peltate, and bears a number of pollen-sacs (not > 9 as a rule) on 

 its lower surface (see Pinus, Taxus, &c.). In the ?, the cone (to 

 avoid for the present the word flower) consists typically of an axis 

 bearing leaf-like organs. The most familiar case is Pinus (i/.v.), 

 where each 1. borne on the axis is a small scale, bearing on its upper 

 surface a very large scale (these latter show on the outside of the 

 cone) on the upper side of which, again, are the two 

 ovules. We may diagrammatically represent it thus, 

 using ' cover-scale ' to express the lower, ' ovuliferous 

 scale ' (epi in at in m] the upper, of the two scales. In 

 Cryptomeria, &c. we find a large scale borne directly 

 on the axis, with a little flap on its upper side 

 near the outer end, and the ovules at the base. The 

 flap is, by both theorists, supposed to represent the 

 ovuliferous scale, and so we have what is illustrated by the second 

 diagram. Then in Cuprcsseae, &c. we find only one 

 scale, and here the two theorists differ. In the other ovulif. sc.l 



fain., Taxaceae, still further difficulties meet us. In cover-scale/ 

 Microcachrys the ovule is borne upon a 1. of the 



cover-scale 



ovules 

 ovulif. scale 

 cover-scale 



ovules 



cone, but in Phyllocladus it is axillary and in Taxus ^"vuKf sc 1 

 term, (see these gen.). In most C. there is only cover-scale} 

 one integument, but in Taxaceae a second commonly 

 appears, forming an aril, fleshy, round the seed as 

 it ripens. 



Now as to the explanation of the facts. Eichler regards the 

 whole cone as one 2 fl. with a number of cpls. (the 'cover-scales'). 

 The cpl. may bear the ovule directly, as in the latter cases above 

 mentioned, or may develope upon its upper surface a placenta 

 (ovulif. scale) which bears the ovules. Cryptomeria thus represents 

 a stage in this evolution, and the whole may be compared with the 

 division of a 1. into a sterile and fertile part, as in Ophioglossum. 

 The rival theory of Celakovsky regards each ovule or pair of ovules 

 with its appurtenances as a 9 fl. (one cpl. to each ovule or pair) so 

 that the cone is a spike of fls. A series may be thus drawn : Podo- 

 carpus (one cpl., one ovule with two integuments, the whole in the 

 axil of a cover-scale, which is therefore to be regarded as a bract], 

 Taxus (fl. reduced to ovule, aril = outer integument); then in the 

 I'mafeae we have spikes of fls. (cones), the cover scale being the 

 bract, the ovuliferous scale the combined outer integuments of the 

 ovules of two cpls. (or three, the keel on the middle of the scale in 

 Pinus, &c. repres. the third) : a fusion of the bract with the fl. in its 

 axil is supposed to have gone on, and we get next the Cryptomeria 

 type, and finally that of Cupresseae. 



Ovules orthotr., exc. Podocarpus. For development of the ovule, 

 fert., &c., see text-books. The cone often becomes hard and woody 

 as the seeds ripen ; in other cases it becomes fleshy. The seeds contain 

 an embryo with i 15 cotyledons, and rich endosp. 



Natural History. The C. are entirely wind-fert. ; the pollen is 

 light and powdery, sometimes provided with air-bladders (e.g. Pinus), 



