844 cxxixa. TAXACEiR (Stapf). [Podocarpus. 



verticallj'- erect branches, the barren specimens of which match completely 

 with examples of 'P. Itdlfolins "' from South Africa, and he adds that it 

 differs from P. milanjianus in ths very shortly tapering leaves. The 

 description of the habit does not suggest P. latifolius, R. Br., by which 

 is here evidently meant P. Thnnhcrgii, Hook, (see Kcw Bulletin, 191(i, 23(>). 



Order CXXX. CYCADACEiE. 



(By D. Prain.) 



Cones dioecious. Males one or more, terminal or subterminal, 

 composed of numerous thickly coriaceous or fleshy flat or variously 

 peltate scales, bearino; on the under surface crowded 1 -celled pollen- 

 sacs. Females terminal or subterininal, composed of flat or thickened 

 variously peltate scales or, less often {Cycas), of flat blades crowded 

 round the apex of the stem ; ovules large, sessile, orthotropous, 

 solitary and inverted on either side of the peltate scales of the female 

 cone, or {Cj/cas) several and erect in notches along the margins of 

 the blades. Seeds large, drupaceous, with a more or less fleshy outer 

 coat and a crustaceous or bony inner coat ; albumen copious, at first 

 fleshy, at length horny, with one or more embryonic cavities ; 

 embryo usually solitary by abortion, slender ; cotyledons 2 ; radicle 

 superior, attached to the crumpled suspensory cord. — Shrubs or small 

 trees with a thick simple, rarely forking stem crowned with a terminal 

 tuft of leaves, or stemless with the leaves arising from a tuberous 

 simple or branched rootstock. Leaves in alternate series of short 

 coriaceous scales and of palm-like pinnate, rarely 2-3-pinnate fronds 

 with membranous or coriaceous often marginally toothed leaflets 

 (pinnyJes) which are usually many-nerved with the nerves parallel, 

 rarely {Sta7}fjer?a) anastomosing, sometimes (Cycas) l-nerved. 



Species about 80, natives of the tropics and of southern subtropical and 

 tern f>e rate regions. 



I^eaflets (pinnules) l-nerved, their margins entire, in 

 bud circinate ; male cones a])proximately terminal ; 

 female cone apical ; ovules erect, 2 or more along 

 either margin of the stalk of an at length reflexcd 

 elongated blade 1. Cvcas 



Leaflets (pinnules) many-nerved, the nerves close-set 

 and longitudinal, their margins (in the tropical 

 s[>ecies) usually toothed, in bud straight ; both male 

 and female cones approximately terminal or only 

 subterminal ; ovules inverted, solitary on either side 

 of a i)eltate scale ". 2. Encephalarto3. 



