DIV. II 



GYMNOSPERMAE 



593 



The Coniferae are divided into two families on account of differ- 

 ences in the floral structure. 



The Taxaceae have female flowers with one or few macrosporangia ; 

 the latter are usually provided with an arillus. The flowers are usually 

 not definite cones. Mostly dioecious. 



FIG. 585. Taxus toccata. A. branch with female flowers; . two ovules on the same shoot (nat. 

 size). B, Leaf with axillary, fertile shoot (x 2). C, Median longitudinal section of a primary 

 and secondary shoot ; r, vegetative cone of the primary shoot ; a, rudiment of the aril ; c, 

 rudiment of the embryo-sac : n. nucellus ; i, integument ; w, micropyle (x 4S). (After STRAS- 

 BIRGER.) l'oiso.\ors. 



The Pinaceae, on the other hand, have a number of ovules in each 

 female flower, the latter being a cone with numerous sporophylls borne 

 on an axis. Arillus not present. Usually monoecious. 



Family Taxaceae. The plants belonging to this family are grouped in a 

 number of small genera distributed in the southern hemisphere. The most 

 important genus is Podocarpus, the numerous species of which are Avidely distributed 

 in temperate East Asia and in Australia and New Zealand, and also occur as stately 

 trees on the mountains of the Asiatic tropics. The female flowers are small shoots", 



2Q 



