portion becomes a median pointed process closely pressed against the next scale above, 

 and ultimately just overlapping its subtending bract-scale. A new V.B. is then 

 added to supply the median ' cone-scale mucro ', and the latter develops anthocyan 

 pigment, as does also the original bract-scale (May 15, contact-parastichies, 3 : 5). 



In the pollination-stage (May 2025) the cone-axis is only half-projected from 

 the investment of basal scales, and the scales constituting an upper cycle (8 to 13) 

 diverge in the manner of a distinct perianth ; the lower half of the cone-system 

 remaining enclosed and functionless, with imperfectly developed scale-stages. Only 

 about 4 members in 5 oblique parastichy lines are functional scales (giving an average 

 of 20-25 fertile scales per cone, and these are expanded for pollination in such a way 

 that the cone-scale spine ('mucro') just tips the next scale above, leaving lateral 

 apertures for the drifting in of pollen-grains on either side. The whole constitutes 

 a very striking little crimson rosette floral-mechanism (3-4 mm. high), which is 

 functional for barely a week at the end of May, at a time when the new annual shoot 

 bearing the flowers is 3 in. long (to 9 on top shoots), and the foliage-needles (10 mm.) 

 are only protruded 1-2 mm. from their silvery sheaths. 



Within a week (May 30) the cones are rapidly sealed ; this being effected by 

 the active growth of succulent tissue of the cone-scale region below the mucro, which 

 is apparently no longer required, as a distinct rounded and intercalated region, 

 supplied directly by the new inverse bundle straight from the axis. The ovules 

 enlarge considerably (65 p], but are completely blocked in by the cone-scale growth. 

 The rudimentary scales arrested at the base of the cone similarly enlarge and seal 

 their cavities, as relics of an older organization. The V.B. supply of the cone-scale 

 does not pass to the effete mucro-region, but supplies the growing tissue, as this 

 becomes dominant. The bract-scale, also checked in growth, is flattened out by the 

 enlarging cone-scale growth, soon buried in the growing mass, and henceforward lost 

 to sight, as the ovules themselves were never exposed to view. By the end of the 

 month (May) the cones are securely closed (6 mm. by 5); the foliage-needles 

 projecting 2-3 mm. only. The cones may be completely deflected in another fort- 

 night (June 15), and enlarge to 8-9 mm. by 7, showing the cone-scales closely 

 pressed to rhoniboidal facets, the mucro now relatively small ; the V.B. supplying the 

 cone-scale branches in the enlarging mass, and the bundles of spiral tracheides show 

 end-groups of transfusion tracheides with small bordered pits (6 p). The exposed 

 surface-layers (2-3) of the facet become sclerosed and pitted; a layer of phellogen 

 ultimately giving a slight cork-formation. In this condition the cones are sealed 

 solely by the pressure of growing turgid cone-scales, to which is later added an 

 exudation of resin filling all surface chinks ; they thus perennate over the summer, 

 green and photosynthetic throughout the mass, and also over the succeeding winter 

 (12 mm.), growth again becoming active in the second spring. 



The cones enlarge rapidly in April-May, by renewed growth of the cone-scales, 

 these again elongating by basal intercalary extension, while the surface-facet is 

 increased by a new ' apophysis ' zone of green tissue ; the umbo in turn remaining 

 stationary and effete. In this way the cone-facets may retain their mutual contact- 

 relations, though carried far beyond their original positions. The rapid elongation 

 of the basal part of the scale involves the ovule-base, pulling it out in a manner which 

 initiates the wing of the seed. The separation of this ' slip ' of tissue l apparently 

 follows the older abscission-line of the ovule, now extended as far as the new growth 

 allows, and the shape of the wings to be utilized in seed-dispersal is thus outlined 

 before any appearance of oospheres in the female prothallus (May 7). At the same 

 time the sealing mechanism of the new apophysis-enlargement is made effective by 

 normal interlocking of papillose epidermal cells (IOO/A) over a length of 2-3 mm., 

 leaving, as in preceding types, the enlarging ovules in free cavities of the interior. 

 In these the ovules are protected by the overlap of about 3-5 scales, and the cone 

 externally is divided into two distinct regions ; the facets of the lower half show no 

 definite umbo or mucro, and remain wholly sterile. Longitudinal section of the 

 'green' cone (June 25) shows the parallel extension of the few fertile scales, the 



1 The recognition of the wing of the seed as a ' slip of the cone-scale' independent of the testa, 

 as if secondarily attached to it, or ' embrncing it like pincers', merely confuses the effect of the 

 histological differentiations of cell-walls of different textures, which induce ready separation, with 

 morphological regions. 



16 



