Natnral Fam'di/ of Plants culled Coniferoe. 171 



on the sides parallel to the medullary rays with a single row of minute dots, 

 with a circular outline, much smaller and more crowded than in Phitis. 

 These characters agree with the Cupressineœ, and difler entirely from the 

 fibrous tissue of Araucaria Cunniughamii, the vessels of which are furnished 

 with two or three rows of dots having a hexagonal outline ; a peculiaritv 

 attributable to pressure, and arising, doubtless, from their close contact prior 

 to the full g'rowth of the membrane composing the vessel. 



The specimen from which my description of this remarkable tree was 

 taken, is contained in the extensive collections of the Society. It formed part 

 of the Herbarium of the younger Linnaeus, having been communicated to 

 him by his friend and successor Thunberg on his return frou) Japan, and it 

 was afterwards incorporated with the collection of our late distinguished 

 President and Founder Sir J. E. Smith. 



The concealed position of the reproductive organs has suggested the generic 

 name, which is derived from KpinrToc, occulfus, and /.lepic, pars. 



ATIIROTAXIS. 



Ord. Nat. Conifer.e. Liii». Juss. 

 Trib. II. CuPREssiNE.E. Ricli. 



Cliaracfer E.ssentiulis. 



Amenta mascula solitaria, multiflora, capitata, laxa. Sijuamœ antheriferie 

 longé unguiculatte, subfastigiatee. Antherarum thecœ 2, distantes, diva- 

 ricato-])atentes. Strohiii sijuumœ indefinita?, lanceolattC, acutœ, regione 

 seminiferâ incrassatâ. Semhia 2 v. 3, compressa, pendula ! margine altero 

 alato. 



Character Generul/s. 

 Floues monoici. 



Masc. Amenta terminalia, solitaria, sessilia, capitata, rhachide brevissima 



subulatfi, squamis pluribus mcmbranaceis involucrata. S(/uumœ untlieri- 



ferœ longé unguiculatae, subfastigiata^ laxœ : ungue lineari-angustissimo, 



compresso : limho oblongo, membranaceo. ^tiitlierarum tliecw 2, ovato- 



oblongœ, obtusic, nniloculares, è baseos angulis squamarum limbi ortum 



