CH. XV] 



FLOWERS OF YEW 



135 



some observation is Deeded to detect the tip of the ovule 

 protruding above. 



Fig. 36. Types of gymnospermous flowers. A, a ? flower of the Yew 

 in vertical section ; a apex of the main axis, of which the flower is an 

 axillary shoot ; ar arillus ; i integument ; n nucellus (cf . Fig. 28, p. 120) ; 

 M, a stamen; p pollen-sacs; D, a ? cone of Cypress; E, one of its scales 

 subtending numerous erect ovules ; F, dissected ? cone of Juniper, showing 

 three erect ovules subtended by scales ; G, the same in transverse section ; 

 H, ripe " berry"; J, seed in section; K, a cf cone of Juniper; L, a 

 stamen (Re). 



Other plants of the Yew bear the male flowers, each 

 of which again consists of a short axis bearing about 

 6 14 scale-like appendages (stamens), each shaped like 

 a small mushroom or umbrella, attached to the axis by 

 the " handle," and bearing 6 8 pollen-sacs on its under 

 surface i.e. on the surface turned to the axis (Fig. 36, M). 

 Below these the axis bears 6 7 pairs of decussating flat 

 membranous scales, gradually increasing in size from 

 below, the uppermost pair being delicate and whitish 

 and about 3 mm. long. 



So that here again we have the flower reduced to 

 a few stamens, subtended below by a few enveloping 

 scales. In neither the male nor the female flower 

 can we speak of a perianth, though possibly the scales 

 immediately surrounding the base of the ovule or the 

 cluster of stamens, respectively, may be regarded as the 

 foreshadowing of such. 



