XXXIIl] COBDAIANTHUS 269 



in transverse section; the stele consists of a ring of bundles 

 separated by broad medullary rays and enclosing a comparatively 

 large pith: the leaf -traces are seen in the cortex and one is cut 

 through as it bends out into a bract which is not yet free from 

 the axis. Two ovules, seen in section at a and b, are represented 

 by the bilaterally symmetrical and compressed integument 

 enclosing small pieces of nucellar tissue. Fig. 481, E, is a trans- 

 verse section of an inflorescence at a higher level and above the 

 apex of the axis: there are four large ovules and one aborted 

 ovule, a. Bertrand describes two vascular bundles in the integu- 

 ment of the ovule a, one at each end of the long axis. 



Fig. 481, A, B, Cordaianthus Grand' Euryi Ren., shows a 

 longitudinal section of the nucellus, 1-5 x -7 mm., and part of 

 the integument of an ovule at the time of pollination, which was 

 probably aided by the secretion of a drop of mucilage as in the 

 ovules of recent Conifers. The integument, separated by a 

 broad space from the nucellus, is cut in the plane of the two 

 vascular strands, v. From -the centre of its broad upper surface 

 the nucellus projects upwards as a beak, 6, and this originally 

 engaged with the micropylar canal formed by the integument: 

 the lighter patch below the beak is the pollen-chamber (fig. 481, 



B, pc) containing two microspores, and two more, p, are seen 

 above the nucellar beak. In another species described by Renault, 



C. Lacattii, the nucellus fills the space bounded by the integument. 



(6) Staminate inflorescences. The male inflorescence, though 

 smaller, is similar in habit to the ovulate shoot: the secondary 

 branch consists of a short axis bearing crowded, spirally disposed, 

 bracts, and the actual flowers are represented by single stamens 

 or groups of 2 3 highly specialised microsporophylls. Each 

 microsporophyll consists of a long filament with a central vascular 

 strand bearing at its apex 3 4 long microsporangia (fig. 481, F, m) 

 which open longitudinally as seen in fig. 482, A. The micro- 

 sporangia are 2-5 3 mm. long covered by dark palisade cells 

 and thin- walled parenchyma, shown as indistinct patches in the 

 photograph. Some of the elliptical and comparatively large 

 microspores are seen in fig. 482, B ; the exine is finely punctate 

 and inside are the remains of a few thin cells in which presumably 



