THE GYMNOSPERMAE : CYCADALES, ETC. 



761 



The successive pairs of bracts on the strobilus itself are each united into 

 a cup surrounding the axis. In the axils of these appear, in the male, two to 

 five whorls of male flowers, and, in the female, a single whorl of four to ten 

 female flowers. In both sexes the flowers are surrounded by fine hairs. 



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Yic. 761. — Gnetum gnemon. Transverse section 

 of the stem at the beginning of secondary 

 thickening, at two different magnifications, 

 showing the well-marked pericycle and the 

 large vessels in the wood. 



The Male Flower. 



Each male flower is surrounded by a perianth, formed of two segments 

 which early become fused into a tube, from wathin which sprmgs a filamentous 

 stalk bearing one or two simple anthers, each dehiscing by an apical sht. 1 he 

 construction is thus very similar to that of the stamen of Ephedra (Fig. 763)- 



25 A 



