BOTANY OF TERRA AUSTRALIS. 47 



observed that I liave found a projection of the stigma, [573 

 though certainly in a much less obvious degree, both in 

 Agathis^ and in a species of Podocarpus. 



Towards tiiis discovery, as extending to the Conifers 

 more strictly so called, an important ste[) was made in 

 Finus, by the accurate Schknhr,"^ who first correctly de- 

 scribed and figured the cupula of that genus, but who con- 

 sidered it as the ovarium itself and the two processes of its 

 aperture as stigmata. Mr. Salisbury, who seems to have 

 been unaccjuainted with Schkuhr's observations, published 

 a few years afterwards,^ the same opinion, which continued 

 to be generally received till the appearance of the essays, 

 already quoted, of Alirbel and Schoubert. 



But these authors do not seem to be aware that certaiu 

 plants of the order are even furnished with a double cupula. 

 This is most reaiarkable in Podocarpm, in which the drupa 

 is formed of this exterual cupula, whose aperture exists not 

 at the apex, but very near its base or point of insertion. 

 The inner cupula in this genus is in every stage entirely 

 enclosed in the outer, and is in like manner inverted. 



That this is the real structure of Podocarpus seems to l)e 

 proved by that of the nearly related genus Bacrydiuni, 

 hitherto so imperfectly understood. This genus has also a 

 double cupula, the outer in the young state enclosing the 

 inner, and both of them at this period being inverted, as 

 in Podocarpus ; but the inner in a more advanced stage 

 acquires nearly an erect position, by rupturing one side of 

 the external cupula, which, not continuing to increase pro- 

 portionally in size, forms a cup surrounding the base only 

 of the ripe fruit. 



Three species oi Fodocarpus are found in Terra Australis ; 

 two of these exist in the colony of Port Jackson, the third 

 w^as observed on the summit of the Table Mountain in Van 

 Diemen's Island. Fodocarpus asplenifolia of Labillardiere^ 

 is certainly not a Podocarpus, but either forms a distinct 



Pinus T)amin;ira, TMmb, pin. 

 276, t. 30S. 



