Gymnospermae — Coniferae — Araucarineae. XIII. 



An isolated section of forest-trees of the Southern Hemisphere, S. America, 

 Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands : Araucaria (incl. Euiacid) lo, Agathis 

 (incl. Davwiard) 4 ; very imperfectly known, and probably in several generic types. 



I, Araucaria imbricata (Monkey Puzzle), Forest-tree, Chili, 50-100 ft., and 

 3-5 ft. diam., pyramidal and stiff when young; laterals pendulous by weight, and 

 ends erecting later : no spurs, no bud-scales, essentially tropical and sub-tropical ; 

 alone grown out of doors in this country. Laterals in a false whorl (5-7) each 

 season ; laterals of second degree at uneven distances, assuming more or less dorsi- 

 ventral habit. Leaves as broad scales (1-2 in.) with many V.B. (distinct type); 

 functional for 10-15 years, traces for many more; leaf-pattern as transverse scars on 

 bark for 50. Dioecious, varying to monoecism. 



Staminate flower, enormous strobilus, largest in Conifer series, often formed 

 in abundance, from axils of scales, without rule, erected, 6 in. by 2, persisting for 

 more than one year ; stamens 500-600, in spiral series, with long acuminate con- 

 nective apex (15 mm.), refllexed later: pollen-sacs (6-9), 12 mm. long, from distal 

 end of anthers, partly free: pollen, spherical, 50 /x, diam., not winged. [In A. 

 brasiliensis, 6 in. long, of 1000 stamens, pollen-sacs 10-15, pollen-grains 500-1000; 

 total output of microspores of one flower approx. ten millions.] 



Ovulate flower, a clustered massive bud-growth, 3 in., of acuminate bract- 

 scales with slender tips upwardly directed; ovule one per scale, inverted; cone-scale 

 vestigial, as rudimentary ' ligule ' at base of ovule. Pollinated June (England) ; 

 green cones erect and increasing to spherical form; fertilization in second summer; 

 seeds matured in third summer. Data for Chili not known. [Details from A. 

 brasiliensis : pollen deposited on cone-scale (ligule), &c., before ovules are fully formed ; 

 germination to branched filaments, like spider's web, with haustorial tubes in tissue 

 of scale and axis, ultimately penetrating nucellus 6 months after pollination. Pollen 

 with many prothallial nuclei.] 



Adult cone, 6-7 in. diam.; no special growth externally or cone-faceting; 

 bracts fuse completely with integument. Ripe cone falls to pieces, leaving axis and 

 basal ' perianth ' of sterile scales : no wing-formation ; 300 seeds per cone. Seed 

 very large, 40 mm. by 15 diam. : embryo 30 mm.; cotyledons 2; endosperm stores 

 starch. Germination hypogeal ; first-year seedling 4-5 inches. Seed edible ; note 

 exudation of white resin on trunk. 



A. brasiliensis, forest-tree of S. America, 150 ft., exploited; more slender 

 leaves, 2 in. ; staminate flower 4-6 in. ; cone 6-8 in. diam., with close-fitted facets of 

 scales 21 : 34 seriate, 20 mm. wide; similarly falling to pieces; seed 40 mm., sunk 

 in scale-base. 



A. excelsa (= Eutactd), Norfolk Island Pine, 180 ft., distinct type. Growth very 

 symmetrical; foliage-leaves awl-shaped, laterally compressed, rhomboidal in section; 

 functional for many years (10). Greenhouse cultivation only ; false whorls of laterals 

 conspicuous ; ramificadon to 3rd and 4th degree, with marked dorsiventrality. Cones 

 4-6 in. diam., spherical and pendulous ; scales 13:21 seriate, with rhomboidal facets 

 30 mm. Germination epigeal. A damaged apex regenerates a symmetrical leader. 



A. Bidwilli (Bunya or Bon-yi), 150 ft., valuable forest-tree of Queensland; 

 symmetrical habit, leaves 2 in. long ; staminate strobili abundant, erected, 6 in. long, 

 by \ in. wide ; monoecious : Fruiting cones globose, up to 12 in. by 9, scales 4 in. by 

 3, and cone as much as 10 lb. weight (green); woody rhomboidal scale-facets with 

 ' ligule ' showing at apex (in manner of Taxodineae), and dps of bract-scales reflexed ; 

 seeds 40 mm., fused with broad scale. A fine type, seeds edible. 



A. Cunninghamii (Hoop Pine), 200 ft., and 4 ft. diam., growing in forest- 

 association New South Wales, and a valuable timber-tree. Bark in characteristic 

 'hooped' bands. Leaves acicular, 10-25 mm., pectinated on laterals. Staminate 

 flowers 3 in. ; fruiting cones 4 in. by 3, apex of bract-scale rigid and reflexed. 



II. Agathis australis. Kauri Pine, N.Z., attaining 150 ft. and 20 ft. diam., 

 cylindrical bole and spreading branches, leaves 2^ in. by | : monoecious. Staminate 

 flowers 1-2 in.; stamens with 5-15 long pollen-sacs: ovulate flower of bract-scales, 

 20 mm. diam., one ovule per scale, inverted, with no distinct 'ligule' ; but cone-scale 

 rudim.ent apparently wholly fused up with bract-scale, and traced in V.B.-distribution, 



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