433 



THE GENUS VODOCHRPUS. 



I. HISTORICAL. 



This gentis was established by L'Heritier in 1788, altliough Baron von 

 Mueller claims priority for Gaertner's Nageia of the same year, a name, however, 

 which the "Index Kewensis " only acknowledges as partini. It is placed by 

 Bentham and Hooker ("Gen. PL," Vol. Ill, 435) as a division of the Conifers. 



It is one of the most widely distributed Pines of the Order, being dispersed 

 over the tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres, from South Africa 

 and New Zealand to Japan, and over the whole of South America. The xA.ustralian 

 species are all indigenous. 



It is claimed that evidences exist showing its occurrence in the Miocene 

 beds of Central Europe. (Masters.) 



The representatives of the genus are either tall trees or shrubs. 



II. SYSTEMATIC. 



The leaves vary in attachment, are usually alternate, rarely opposite, 

 flat, with a prominent midrib. The flowers are dioecious or monoecious. Male 

 amentum narrow, cylindrical or catkin-like, solitar}-, terminal on the ends of short 

 axillary shoots, stipitate, stipes surrounded by short scales. Microsporophylls 

 imbricate, numerous, slightly contracted at the base, connective apiculate ; 

 microsporangia two, dehiscing longitudinally. Female amentum axillary, 

 pedunculate, consisting of two to four succulent macrosporophylls (or what 

 may be regarded as such), which unite with the peduncle in an oblong, fleshy 

 receptacle. Macrosporangia one or two, exserted, anatropous, and adnate to an 

 erect stipes from within the larger macrosporophyll of the receptacle. Cotyledons 

 two, with an inferior radicle. 



Seed drupaceous, the nucleus enclosed in a double integument, the outer 



:cuL 



2E 



one succulent, the inner one long. 



