GNETACE^E 



545 



Ephedra vulgaris, Rich. (fig. 674). 



Hypocotyl tapering downwards into the radicle, brown when old. 



Cotyledons two, linear, obtuse, slightly channelled above, gla- 

 brous, glaucous-green, 8'1 cm. long, about 1 mm. wide. 



Stem shrubby, diffuse, terete, striate, finely scabrous on the 

 ridges, glabrous, deep green; 1st internode 9-13 mm. long; 2nd 

 1-3-1-5 cm. ; 3rd 1-8-2-2 cm. 



Leaves very small, cauline, opposite, decussate, sessile, ovate, 

 obtuse, connate at the base, convex on the back, glabrous, pale 

 green, thick and subfleshy when young, and entirely enclosing the 



FIG. 674. "Ephedra vulgaris. 

 Two-thirds nat. size. 



FIG. 675. 



Ephedra altissima, x 5. 

 Longitudinal section of seed 

 through the cotyledens : M, 

 micropyle ; Cu, cupular 

 process of loose tissue; P, 

 endosperm f Ch, chalaza. 



growing tip in bud, becoming pale or brown and scarious at an 

 early age, persistent, ultimately torn by developing axillary buds. 



Ephedra altissima, Desf. (fig. 675). 



Ovule enclosed in a tubular, shortly bifid,, glabrous, pale red 

 envelope, and that again in two successively smaller envelopes, 

 erect, terminal, orthotropous ; micropyle superior. 



Seed enclosed in the tubular processes above-mentioned, each 

 of which consists of a pair of connate, opposite, decussate bracts. 

 Sometimes there is present the remains of a second aborted ovule. 

 Narrowly and pointedly ovoid- conical, glabrous, brown, obsoletely 

 four-ribbed towards the apex ; testa thick, crustaceous and tough ; 

 tegmen very thin, membranous, brown, more or less exserted as a 



II. N N 



