26 DR. J. D. HOOKER ON WELWITSCHIA, 
the terminal ones invariably subtended a minute papilla, which is the naked nucleus of 
the ovule; lower down, in the same cones, I find this nucleus surrounded at the base 
by a compressed thickened ring, rising into shoulders on each side (Plate IX. figs. 2 & 3), 
which ring is the first appearance of the perianth. 
In the next stage (fig. 4) the perianth is dilated upwards, and, by the time that the 
integument of the nucleus appears, the perianth is saucer-shaped (fig. 5); and becoming 
more concave, its upper margin rises to a level with the apex of the nucleus (fig. 6). 
When about 4l; inch long, the orifice dilates and becomes obscurely 2-lobed (fig. 7), 
the lobes being right and left, or parallel to the scale of the cone. At this period the 
nucleus is often surmounted by its integument, but as often it remains exposed till a 
considerably later period. The perianth next dilates above the base, and contracts at 
the orifice, becoming much compressed and urceolate (fig. 8); the orifice is manifestly 
lobed, but most deeply opposite the scale. 
The next manifest change is when the perianth is about 3'5 inch long, and the lobes of 
its mouth converge (fig. 9). The wings next appear as narrow membranous margins 
running up to the lobes of its mouth ; and the ovular integument is produced far beyond 
the nucleus (Plate VIII. figs. 6, 7, 8. When } to $ inch long (Plate VIII. figs. 9 & 10), the 
perianth is flattened, membranous, and translucent, with a flagon-shaped cavity, is much 
dilated below, and has a bifid dilated mouth (fig. 11), which opens towards the scale. 
The nascent female flower is at first formed in close contiguity to the base of the scale, 
but on the rachis of the cone, and is sometimes torn away with the subtending scale, and 
sometimes not; but it is gradually carried up, as it were, beyond the scale, and becomes 
placed on a conical prominence of the rachis, which is confluent below with the narrowed 
base of the scale (Plate VIII. figs. 4, 9, 10). At about this stage, or soon after it, two 
pairs of vascular bundles appear in the perianth, one pair ascending on each side at the 
base; the inner bundle of each pair runs to the base of the ovule, the outer traverses 
the walls of the perianth. 
The wings next rapidly dilate upwards and outwards, till the perianth becomes obovoid 
in circumscription (Plate VIII. fig. 12), its orifice almost closes, leaving a small notch at 
its apex, through which the styliform prolongation of the ovular integument often pro- 
trudes. Finally, as the wings dilate further, and the base contracts into a stipes, it assumes 
its nearly orbicular form, and acquires almost the dimensions of its subtending scale. 
The above-described flowers have rarely presented evidence of being fertilized; and it 
is probable that the development of the flowers in the lower parts of the same cones, 
which were all formed at a much earlier period, and duly impregnated, has presented 
some deviations from the above described, as these vary to a very considerable degree 
amongst themselves,—the relative dimensions of the perianth and its wings, the ovular 
coat and nucleus, differing much in one and the same cone. 
Pericarp.—tThe persistent pericarp, enclosing the ripe seed of Welwitschia (Plate VII. 
figs. 2 & 3), consists of a central cavity surrounded by a very large membranous hyaline 
WIE of exquisitely beautiful structure and appearance. The central portion is obovoid 
or pyriform, suddenly contracted above into a narrow canal, traversed by the styliform 
process of the ovular integument, and below into a flat stipes; it is compressed, almost 
