257 
Their dominating feature was the division in slender 
stalklets with one terminal ovule, contrary to the normal 
strobilus with sessile ovules. 
Generally each brachyblast contains five strobili, which 
are ranged as follows: 
The first strobilus always arising in the axil of a budscale, 
has mosttimes an abnormal form, as Î mentioned before. 
Hg 30 1,2; 3, 4) 
The second strobilus, also standing in the axil of a 
budscale is normal, in nearly all cases bearing two sessile 
ovules. (fig. 3—8.) 
The third one sometimes, and nearly always the fourth, 
standing in the axil of an ordinary leaf, bears three sessile 
ovules. 
The number of ovules on the fifth strobilus is very 
different and often they are less developed. The frequenty 
of four sessile ovules is greatest on this strobilus. 
Sometimes there is a sixth strobilus which again bears 
two normal ovules. 
As the lowest budscales were the most primitive, and 
the following formed a gradual transition to the normal 
leaf, and as in general from a series of successive organs, 
the lowermost, which originate first, represent a more 
primitive stage than the higher ones, coming later, the 
conclusion may be ventured that the first strobilus repre- 
sents the most original case, and we may accept that the 
strobilus, with two or three unstalked ovules, now being 
the normal form is derived from the divided one. This 
view agrees with Worsdell’s (182) ,I1n the maidenhair 
tree (Ginkgo biloba) we find abnormally an increase of 
the number of carpels (here reduced to ovules), which also 
become long-stalked; doubtless a case of reversion, the 
normal female flower of Ginkgo being palpably a reduced 
structure." (II. p. 9%). 
The ovule of Ginkgo is composed of a nucellus and an 
