227 
temped by the external appearance. Mc Nab (9,6) calls 
it an ovarium, consisting of two median carpels, where as 
Lignier et Tison (89) speek of four carpels, of which 
two are lying in the median plane and two in the trans- 
verse one. 
The reason why they take these organs for carpels is 
probably to be found in the fact previously mentioned, 
that there is a strong resemblance between the gynaecium 
and a pistil and also in the desire to regard the flower 
of Welwitschia as an angiospermous type. If we could 
speak here of a pistil, an organ formed by carpellary 
leaves, the integument would have disappeared entirely, 
whereas also the nucellus has been reduced to a conform 
parenchymatous mass of tissue filled up with starch. Ho- 
wever, it would be rather strange if an organ as the 
integument, which has such an important function in the 
Pteridosperms and Gymnosperms and has attained such 
a high degree of development, would have suddenly 
disappeared without leaving a trace behind, whereas a 
quite different organ like a pistil has come in its place, 
in a defined angiospermous type, and then even in a 
functionless organ! | 
In the fertile ovule of the female flower, a normal in- 
tegument is undoubtedly present, there being no question 
about a pistil. And it cannot be accepted that in a func- 
tionless organ, representing doubtlessly a reduced state, a 
higher degree of development should have been acquired, 
than in the same organ, on the same plant, which really 
has its function. 
The gynaecium in the male flower may be regarded as 
consisting of a reduced sterile nucellus, invested by an 
integument originating at its base, and being quite homo- 
logous with the integument of the female flower. The 
stigma-like apex gives certainly rise to some wonderment, but 
it should be in no case an objection to this interpretation. 
