Natural Family of Plants called Coniferæ. 177 
in a regular manner on arriving at maturity. In Athrotaxis the lower edge 
of each side of the modified leaf assumes the condition of the cell of an ordi- 
nary anther; and here it is evident that both surfaces are employed in forming 
the cells, for their walls are continuous with the substance of the scale: but 
in the rest of the Cupressineæ, it would seem that the upper surface of the 
modified leaf or anther remains unchanged, and that a portion of the under 
surface only becomes polliniferous, tne pollen occupying 2, 3, or 5 separate 
spots indicated by the raised and altered portions of the cuticle which cover 
them. These polliniferous thecz are analogous to the subdivisions of the 
anthers of Rhizophorew, Laurineæ, &c., and are in all cases unilocular, and, 
as far as I have observed, destitute of any septum; their line of dehiscence is : 
various, being sometimes in the direction of the axis, and sometimes contrary 
to it. I ought to except Athrotaxis and Pinus, in beth of which the scales 
differ but little from the ordinary condition of the anther in other plants. My 
opinion of the scales being simple, and not originating from the confluence of 
several antherz, is founded upon their resemblance to the bractes, and their 
transition through them to the proper leaves, from their nervation, which is 
entirely that of a simple leaf, exhibiting no traces of composition; and lastly, 
from their assuming in Pinus and Athrotaxis the ordinary condition of the 
simple anther. It may be worth noticing, that in Athrotaxis selaginoides, 
where the leaves are acuminate, the apex of the anther is also pointed; and in 
A. cupressoides, in which the leaves are obtuse, the anther is likewise blunt. 
The wood of Athrotaxis presents nothing unusual in its structure, but resem- 
bles that of Cryptomeria, except that the dots on the vessels are fewer. 
I am indebted to my friend Dr. Lindley for the opportunity of giving figures 
and descriptions of both species of this curious genus, the specimens from 
which they were taken being contained in his rich herbarium, and having 
been sent to him, along with many other interesting plants, by Mr. Gunn, a 
zealous botanist, who is settled at Launceston in Van Diemen’s Land. The 
drawings have been done under my inspection by my young friend Mr. Kippist, 
and they afford a good specimen of his success as a draughtsman. 
The generic name alludes to the crowded disposition of the leaves and scales 
of the female spike, and is compounded of a6pooc, confertus, and a£, ordo. 
