249 
& 16. Encephalartos Altensteiniü Lehm. 
Literature: Stopes (145). 
Material: Bot. Gard. Sydney * !). 
The female strobilus is built up of sporophylls with 
broad pointed laminae, each bearing two ovules. Sometimes 
the lamina envelopes the ovule more or less by ,, Wuche- 
rungen” (Stopes 145). 
The sarcotesta is very thick in the micropylar region 
and there it has a square form. In connextion with this 
great extension of the outer flesh, the micropyle is very 
long and the vascular bundles have a remarkable bran- 
ching in that region (see 145 fig. 36 p. 467). 
The sclerotesta is formed by two layers, the cells of 
the outer one have very thick walls, but have the same 
form as those of the inner one. On the outersurface a 
great number of ribs are to be seen running from the 
base of the seed towards the micropyle. 
In the ripe seed the endotesta is represented only by 
a brown dry papery membrane. 
The nucellus is concrescent for its greater part with 
the inner fleshy layer, provided in its apical region with 
a sharp beak in which the pollenchamber is formed. 
The sarcotestal vascular system is composed of about 
fourteen bundles, their course corresponding with the ribs 
on the sclerotesta. 
In the stony coat, surrounding the micropyle little ridges 
of about 2 mM. length can be seen, corresponding with 
the ribs lower-down, the latter being less prominent, and 
lacking any trace of sutures. Their number is different and 
amounts from eleven to sixteen. 
1) The material indicated with * is from the dried-se:d collection. 
