EPHEDRA. 33 
The presence of an oblique scale round the base (on oue 
side) of the ovule is common, but is generally if not always 
due to the separation of the scales above their bases on the 
application of force. 
The character of this order in Lindley's Introduction, taken 
from Blume is open to considerable objections: of this the 
term projection applied to the attachment of the male flowers 
is one instance. 
Then the female flowers are said to be sometimes shel- 
tered by a false calyx consisting of two scales more or less 
combined, each of which surround one or two flower 
a structure impossible, uuless the scales are lobed, which 
they are not. 
When two flowers are developed one may be axillary and 
the other terminal, or both axillary ; when three, the rela- 
tion they have to the scales and axis is obvious, when one, 
the axillary ones are abortive, because the plant is dicho- 
tomous, and in all such cases the terminal flower is deve- 
loped first. 
The style-like process is not formed from the membrane of 
the nucleus, in the sense here implied, or it is perfect before 
the nucleus is so, although probably originally formed 
from it. 
Then no evidence is given about the protruded style-like 
process of the fruit before maturity, which process is the 
apex of the secundine, or inner coat. And with regard to 
the hypothesis assumed, it is totally contrary to all analogy, 
for in all instances in phenogamous plants when a peri- 
carpial integument or pistillum exists, a stigma exists also. 
To this there is no exception.* 
Then the assumption of the protrusion of the outer coat 
of the ovule is contrary to analogy, in all cases the tendency 
to this protrusion is greatest in the inner coat, the embryo- 
nary sac half filling the nucleus perfectly long before the an- 
* Yet the female flower is far more precocious MALES, 
E 
