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The female fructification arises in the axil of the lower- 
most leaves on young shoots. The axis of the strobilus 
bears three, four or five pairs of decussate sporophyl:s, 
being thick and fleshy as the axis itself, which protrudes 
above the uppermost sporophylls as a fleshy irregularly 
curved mass of tissue. On each sporophyll two ovules 
are formed, originating at its base near the axis, which 
has become hollow by this and forms between both 
ovules a thick cushionlike partition, fused with the 
sporophyll. 
When fertilization has taken place, which occurs four- 
teen months after pollination, the seed soon becomes 
mature, and the integument first 
being composed entirely of paren- 
chymatous cells is differentiated now 
in the three common layers. 
The outer fleshy coat is a very 
conspicuous-one and forms the 
greater part of the testa, being 
broad in its upper portion with a 
flat top, in the centre of which the 
entrance to the micropylar tube is 
found, whereas the lowermost por- 
tion of the ovule is rather pointed. 
Its outer surface is covered by a 
Fig. 7. Cephalotaxus thick-celled epidermis. 
drupacea; longitudinal sec- The sclerotesta is in the mature 
tion trough the ovule, sar- ; 
cotesta, sclerotesta dotted, Seed about, 1 mM. thick and has a 
endotesta with a short mi- general shape being just the reverse 
cropylar tube, nucellus and : : 
one archegonium. of that of the entire ovule, at its 
base it is broadest whereas at its 
top it is pointed, entirely enveloping the micropylar tube. 
Inside the stony layer an endotesta is developed, com- 
posed of five to six layers of elongated cells, in its upper 
part becoming free from the sclerotesta and provided with 
