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sometimes more than three feet long and about as 

 many inches in diameter, of a reddish brown colour 

 and covered with rhomboidal valvate (a) scales, dis- 

 posed spirally round the stem. From the angles of 

 these spring the stamens. Within the circumference 

 of this catkin at intervals corresponding to the 

 apertures from which the stamens shoot, are found a 

 series of little masses closely resembling in form the 

 nautilus shell, and about three quarters of an inch in 

 diameter, the mouth being directed to the aperture. 

 These contain such a succession of stamens in pro- 

 gressive, stages of development, that the flowering is 

 maintained for eight or ten years, each successive set 

 of stamens thrusting off and replacing that which 

 preceded it. 



The female blossoms spring from a strong stem 

 which forms a regular zigzag, the flowers being on 

 the angles. The floVvers offer nothing of the appear- 

 ance of what generally is regardedas a blossom, being 

 composed of three bracts (6) three or four inches in 

 diameter. A gummy secretion exudes from the apex, 

 decided, no doubt, to arrest and secure the pollen 

 which fecundates them. The stem is supported by three 

 very strong bracts, of which the outer one, the top of 

 which is wedge-shaped, penetrates the stalk of the 



(a) Valvate meaus epening by valves. 



(b) Bracts aro those leaves more less changed iu form, from 

 which flowera proceed. In some flowers they aro two little scales 

 which arc evidently organs iu an exceedingly rudimentary state. 



