RANALES 



409 



the Magnoliaceae, the Trochodendraceae, and the HamameHdaceae. 

 But it has finally been shown to be worthy of family rank, with charac- 

 ters that set it far apart from other ranalian families and raise the ques- 

 tion whether it does not deserve ordinal rank. 



The genus is a dioecious tree of China and Japan. Its leaves show 

 apparent transition from pinnate to palmate venation, and its simple 

 flowers are in greatly reduced and compacted inflorescences. Fossils 



Fig. 146. Inflorescences of Cercidiphtjllum japonicum. A, staminate, stamens in 

 clusters, each cluster subtended by a bract; B, pistillate: 1, showing flowers con- 

 sisting of single carpels, scar of bract shown at base of each carpel; 2, diagram 

 showing arrangement of flowers and bracts in the inflorescence. {After Swamij and 

 Bailey. ) 



