XVI CONSPECTUS OF THE ORDERS. 



arranged scales (carpels : niacrosporophylls) bearing 1 to many wules at or aboTe 

 the base either directly or on an interposed usually scale-, ligule- or aril-like 

 appendage (ovuliierous scale : placenta : aril : epimatium) ; or the cone reduced to 

 a lew subterminal or 1 truly terminal ovule, supported by a number of barren scales ; 

 scales variously shaped, usually much larger than the ovules and covering them, or 

 smaller and the ovules more or less exserted. Ovules (macrosporangia) erect or 

 reversed, usually orthotropous, rarely auatropous; integument 1, sometimes with an 

 outer covering more or less surrounding the seed, or completely enclosing it except 

 at the micropyle and even fused with it (outer integument : aril : epimatium) ; 

 micropyle widely open or only a minute perforation ; nucellus free upwards from 

 the integument, sometimes protruding through the micropyle ; pollen -chamber 0. 

 Mature cones formed of the more or less enlarged and indurated scales (and their 

 appendages) enclosing the seeds (typical cones), or of more or less fleshy scales fused 

 into berry-like structures (galbules) ; or (if much reduced) with the seeds exserted 

 from the unchanged or modified subtending scales. Seeds erect or recurved, ovoid 

 or ellipsoid, often compressed and winged by the adhesion of a portion of the 

 ovuliierous appendage or by outgrowths of the testa : testa membranous, coriaceous, 

 crustaceous, wingless or winged or partly (inner layer) crustaceous or woody and 

 partly (outer layer) fleshy or coriaceous and the seed then drupe-like ; nucellary 

 membrane thin, free from the testa except at the base. Endosperm fleshy and oily, 

 rarely starchy. Embryo 1 (rarely 2 or 3), axile, erect, cylindric-clavate, usually 

 slender ; cotyledons 2 to many in a whorl ; radicle superior or inferior. Trees or 

 shrubs, mostly evergreen and coriaceous. Leaves opposite, verticillate or spirally 

 arranged, scale-like or needle-shaped, or linear, rarely lanceolate to ovate, entire, 

 rarely serrulate or lobed, very often heteromorphous. Male cones terminal on short 

 leafy shoots, or axillary, sessile or peduncled, usually subtended by small imbricate 

 cataphylls, solitary or gathered in heads, spikes or umbels. Female cones terminal 

 or axillary, solitary, rarely iu clusters or spikes. 



CXXIXs PiNACEiK. Female cones of very numerous or few simple or appendaged 

 scales, all or a part of them bearing 1-8 ovules which are always shorter than their 

 scales and covered by them, when mature representing typical " cones " or berry -like 

 <mlbules. Seeds enclosed, without an aril or arilloid covering. 



CXXIXa. Taxace^. Female cones usually much reduced, consisting of some 

 barren and 1 to few (uppermost) fertile simple scales, the latter bearing 1 (very 

 rarely 2) ovules, or the ovule solitary and terminal, supported by banren scales ; 

 ovule usually more or less exceeding its scale ; mature cone little altered or its axis 

 and scales becoming more or less fleshy. ' Seeds usually exserted, with or without an 

 arilloid covering. 



CLASS III.— CYCADALES. 



Dioecious. Male cones (male strobiles : male flowers) typical cones ; scales 

 (stamens : microsporophylls) flat or more often tliickened upwards and up to 

 cuneate-peltate, coriaceous, close, bearing on their underside numerous (often over 

 100-700) pollen-sacs (microsporangia), scattered or more often arranged in small 

 snbstellate groups of 3 or 4, dehiscing longitudinally. Pollen-grains ellipsoid or 

 subglobose ; generative cell producing 2 ciliate motile male cells (spermatozoids). 

 Female cones (female strobiles : female flowers) similar to tlie male, but usually 

 larger ; lower and uppermost scales (carpels ; macrosporophylls) usually barren, the 

 otliers fertile, either representing flat, toothed to pinnatifid stalked blades, bearing 



