;96 



The Ohio Naturalist. 



[Vol. \h Xo. 1, 



AN ABNORMAL CONE OF PINUS LARICIO. 



Walter Fiscukr. 



It has l^een customary to try to explain the homolot^y of the 

 ovuliferous scale in the Conifers h^' the study of monstrosities. 

 So the chance discovery on Mav 12 of a cone of Pinus laricio 

 which was. both- carpellate andstaminate led the writer to look 

 up again the numerous theories which have l)een advanced to 

 explain this structure. 



Fig. 1. — 1. Tlie al)normal cone, 

 carpellate bract and ov-uliferous scale. 

 side of stamen. 



Under side of carjiel showini,^ 

 Upper side of same. 4. Under 



The cone was one of two growmg in the normal position of 

 the staminate cone and consisted of two well marked zones, the 

 lower or staminate part making up about four-fifths and the 

 upper or carpellate part making up about one-fifth of the entire 

 cone, 'i'hc other cone was staminate oiily. As a closer examina- 

 tion showed that l)()th kinds of sporojjlndls were perfectb' nor- 

 mal, their description will correspond to that of those on other 

 cones. The carj)ellate jjart l)ore bracts on the u])])er sides of 

 which were the ovuliferous scales bearing the ovules or mega- 

 s])orangia. The staminate ])art of the cone bore l)tit one kind of 

 scales, the stamens or micros])or()i)hylls bearing the micros])o- 

 rangia on the under side. 



