﻿YOUNG FRUCTIFICATIONS. 



181 



FRUIT XIV. 



Fruit xiv exhibits identically the same stage of growth as the preced- 

 ing; but the heavy covering of bracts, these being fully 125 in number, is 

 prominent. The fact that this fruit is borne very near the base of the trunk is 



mmm 



S53S 



S.S3f 



w 



Fig. 97.- Cycadeoidea dacotensis. T. 214. Fruil X. Serial sections 537-540, cut from a cylindrical core drilled out of 

 the armor. X 1 ^. The arrows in each case point toward summit of trunk, and indicate in the three transverse sec- 

 tions the plane of longitudinal section, and in the longitudinal section the plane of transverse section. (Cf. Plate XLII.) 



a. S. 539. Cut transversely through the peduncle and showing its bundle system, the bract traces, the lower (outer) bracts, and a 



single leaf base (1) with its bundle system, w. Woody cylinder of peduncle. 



b. S. 538. Parallel to the preceding section at a distance of 1 .8 cm. Cutting near the base of the ovulate cone, s. Two isolated 

 synangia lying between the surface of the ovulate cone and the ramentum of the enveloping bracts. 



c. S. 537. 1 .2 cm. distally parallel to the preceding section. This section cuts through the summit of the ovulate cone, the bundle 



system of which is indicated by the darker band 2 mm. beneath the palisaded layer of young seed stems and interseminal scales. 

 a', b'. c'.S. 540. Longitudinal section through same fruit as preceding transverse sections. Obtained by cementing together, in exactly their 



original position, the four portions of the fruit resulting from cutting transverse sections a, b, c. Arrows a', b', and c' marlc posi 



lions from which a, b, and c were cut. Likewise in the cuts of the three preceding sections arrows a, b, and c indicate plane of 



longitudinal section. 

 1, Portion of nearly axillary leaf base ; w, woody cylinder of peduncle ; d, basal portions of a wilted or dehiscent staminate disk. 



of interest because, although it chances to be very deeply surrounded by robust 

 bracts, it is no more advanced in growth than the very similar fruit X from near 

 the summit, as just described and figured. In fact, the cone is small for so large 



