3i6 



Johnstotiii ; and according to Masters in the Carboniferous, Oolitic, and Miocene 

 times ; also in the Tertiary of the Arctic regions, in the English Eocene, and 

 American Cretaceous ^Nicholson and Lydekker, INIan. Pal. II, 1533.) 



The alternate rows of pitted cells on the walls of the tracheids of the fossil 

 and living timber indicate a phvlogenetic relationship between the species past 

 and present of this genus, and perhaps AgatJiis ; for these two genera — Araucaria 

 and AgatJiis — appear to be closely allied by certain affinities, such as anatomical 

 structures of the timber, chemical constituents of their various jiarts, deciduous 

 cone scales, and integumented seeds, whilst both are probabl\' of comparatively 

 recent geological age. 



II. SYSTEMATIC. 



The two Australian species are large characteristic trees of the Northern 

 Coast brushes, and have distinct forms of leaves. Flowers dioecious, terminal. 

 Male amenta, catkin-like, solitar\- or in bundles. Microsporophylls numerous, 

 spirally imbricate, contracted at the base, ha^•ing a lanceolate connective from 

 which are suspended the microsporangia in two rows. 



The macrosporoph\-lls are spirall\- placed in a continuous series with the 

 leaves, containing a single pendulous macrosporangium. 



The fruit cones vary in size, are ovoid in shape in the Australian species, 

 with numerous closely-packed scales, having (1) a thickened and hardened apex, 

 with winged margins at the base, and (2) the dorsal spur well developed (vide 

 article under origin of this feature in the Callitris). 



The seed is similar in shape to the almond nut, and has a free apex. The 

 germination of the seeds of A. Bidwilli has been described by Heckel in Compt- 

 Rend., Dec. 7, 1891. 



Under the two Australian species are rcspecti^'ely described (infra) the 

 foliation, phyllotaxy, histology, and movements of leaves. 



IV. TIMBERS (Forestry). 



As timber trees, too much cannot be said concerning their value, for one 

 desideratum of our local builders is softwoods, and as these trees are endemic and 

 flourish abundantly, every effort should be made to at once carry out extcnsi\e 

 replanting of the denuded areas where these pines oik c nourished. 



In Queensland, A. Bidwilli is still standing in sonic fjiiantity nwaiting tlie 

 saw-miller, but in New South Wales, A. Cunninghamii is almost a tree of the past. 



