Natural Family of Plants called Coniferæ. 171 
on the sides parallel to the medullary rays with a single row of minute dots, 
with a circular outline, much smaller and more crowded than in Pinus. 
These characters agree with the Cupressineæ, and differ entirely from the 
fibrous tissue of Araucaria Cunninghamii, the vessels of which are furnished 
with two or three rows of dots having a hexagonal outline; a peculiarity 
attributable to pressure, and arising, doubtless, from their close contact prior 
to the full growth of the membrane composing the vessel. 
The specimen from which my description of this remarkable tree was 
taken, is contained in the extensive collections of the Society. It formed part 
of the Herbarium of the younger Linnæus, having been communicated to 
him by his friend and successor Thunberg on his return from Japan, and it 
was afterwards incorporated with the collection of our late distinguished 
President and Founder Sir J. E. Smith. 
The concealed position of the reproductive organs bas suggested the generic 
name, which is derived from xpurroc, occultus, and uepic, pars. 
ATHROTAXIS. 
Ord. Nat. Conrrera. Linn. Juss. 
Trib. II. CurnEssiNEx. Rich. 
Character Essentials. 
Amenta mascula solitaria, multiflora, capitata, laxa. Sgvame antheriferæ 
longè unguiculatæ, subfastigiatæ. dntherarum thecæ 2, distantes, diva- 
ricato-patentes. Strobili squame indefinite, lanceolate, acutæ, regione 
seminifera incrassatà. Semina 2 v.3, compressa, pendula! margine altero 
alato. 
Character. Generalis. 
Frores monoici. 
Masc. Amenta terminalia, solitaria, sessilia, capitata, rhachide brevissima 
subulata, squamis pluribus membranaceis involucrata. Squame antheri- 
Sere longè unguiculatæ, subfastigiatze, laxze : ungue lineari-angustissimo, 
compresso: limbo oblongo, membranaceo. Antherarum thecæ 2, ovato- 
oblongæ, obtusæ, uniloculares, è baseos angulis squamarum limbi ortum 
