364 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Distribution. Ephcdra occurs in Europe, Asia, and South America, in 

 temperate regions ; Gnetum in tropical India and in Guiana. 



Qualities and Uses. Unimportant ; the branches and flowers of some 

 jEphedrce were formerly used as a styptic drug. 



Subclass Gymnospermese, JBenth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Palm-like, dwarf trees with simple trunks, having 

 the internodes undeveloped, the surface tessellated with the scars 

 of the fallen leaves ; leaves clustered at the summit, pinnate 

 (bi pinnate in Bowenia), parallel-ribbed, more or less hard and 

 woody, vernation straight, that of the lateral pinnae circulate or 

 flat, and imbricated ; dioecious, the flowers in cones ; the one-celled 

 anthers covering the under surface of the male cone-scales (fig. 451) ; 



Fig. 451. 



Anther-bearing scales (nat. size), anther and pollen (magnified), of Encephalartos. 



female flowers either peltate scales with ovules beneath, or flat- 

 scales with ovules at the base, or somewhat leaf-like scales with the 

 ovules on the margins ; seeds with a hard or succulent coat, con- 



