iqiq] DUPLER—TAXUS 349 



attained a length averaging about t .5 mm., consisting of the main 

 axis surrounded by compactly arranged scales. In this early stage 

 one cannot distinguish these structures from one another, either by 

 external appearance or in section. Early in July, however, one can 

 recognize in median longitudinal sections the beginning of the 

 differentiation which is now taking place, the apex of the vegetative 

 bud remaining conical (fig. 2), as is characteristic of the vegetative 

 stem tip (fig. 1), the apex of the staminate structure becoming 

 broadened (fig. 3), while the ovule-bearing structure is recognizable 

 by the rudiment of the ovulate strobilus appearing in the axil of 

 one of the scales near the tip of the primary shoot (fig. 4). All 3 

 kinds of buds may occur on the same shoot; in fact, this is the usual 

 occurrence, with the staminate buds generally the more numerous, 

 the vegetative buds nearest the tip, and one to several ovulate buds 

 a short distance below the vegetative ones, the staminate buds 

 occupying the older portion of the shoot. 



The buds arise only on the current season's growth, and in case 

 of the staminate structures always mature the next season. No 

 cases were observed in which staminate strobili were produced on 

 older growth, nor were any cases found in which the buds remain 

 dormant for a time and then mature. Miss Robertson, in her 

 study of Torreya californica from trees growing in England, found 

 that while the staminate strobili are formed in the axils of the leaves 

 of a current season, they may remain dormant for as long as 3 years. 

 In Taxus buds may be found on older growth, but they are either 

 dormant vegetative buds or persisting primary shoots of the ovu- 

 liferous structures of a former season, as will be described more 

 fully in the paper dealing with these structures. 



Sporophylls 



PRIMORDIA 



The broadened apex (fig. 3) is the first indication of the true 

 nature of the staminate strobilus bud, and can be recognized first 

 about July 1. Strasburger (22) was able to recognize the stami- 

 nate structure of T. baccata about August 1, and in Torreya taxifolia 

 Coulter and Land (5) first observed the staminate buds in July, 



