329 



NOTES ON VAIUABLE DTG^CISM TN PITTOSPORUM 



UXDULA TUM Andr. 



By Thos. Stei.:l, P^L.S. 



(Plate ix.) 



In 1894* and ayaiii in 1895,1 Mr. A. G. Hamilton drew atten- 

 tion to the fact that two types of tiowers are to be found on 

 Plttotiporum undulatuDi Andr.; the one sort having prominent 

 stamens, the anthers being well developed and carrying abundance 

 of pollen; while the other has the stamens undeveloped, the 

 anthers being non-dehiscent, and closely appressed to the base of 

 the ovulary. Mr. Hamilton concludes that the plant is in a state 

 of transition to a dioecious condition, and remarks that he has 

 never found the two kinds of blossom on one tree. 



In 1898,1 Mr. Hamilton again referred to the differentiation 

 of sexes in this tree, and observed that the staminiferous form 

 apparently never sets seed, while in the case of another Austra- 

 lian species, P. revoJutum Ait., the flowers are always perfect. 

 Mr. T. Kirk,§ speaking of a New Zealand species, P. eugenioides 

 A. Cunn., states that both kinds of flowers are found, and may 

 either be produced on separate trees, or both ft>rms may occur 

 on the same tree. 



Mr. J. J. Fletcher, in 1900,|| drew the attention of members of 

 this Society to the same <[uestion, and invited observations as to 

 the possible occurrence of botli kinds of blossom on one tree. 



*Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 1894, p.583. 

 t Aust. As.socn. Adv. Science, 1895, p. 405. 

 JProc. Linn. 8oo. N. S. Wales, 1898, p. 759. 

 § Forest Flora of New Zealand, 1889, p.81. 

 UProc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 1900, p.54H. 



