442 



linear-lanceolate, resembling those of /*. data, R.Br., onl\- that those of the young 

 plants are usually much longer. Male amenta usually three, sessile at the end 

 of a peduncle, shorter, and the basal scales or bracts absent or not prominent 

 as in P. data, R. Br. Fruit crimson, about the size of a pigeon's egg, solitary or in 

 pairs, on the top of an angular, rather slender peduncle. Peduncle about i^ in. 

 long, near the end of the branchlets, pechcels narrow, angular, onlv a few lines 

 long. 



IV. TIMBER, 



This is a tree of smaller proportions to P. chitu, R.Br., )'et its timber may 

 pro\'e to be of equal \-alue, if experimented with by the \'arious Forestry 

 Departments of the Commonwealth, for the number of native softwoods is limited. 



3. Podocarpus alpina, 



R.Br., Mirb. in Mem Par. xiii, 75 ; Hook. f. in Hool<. Land. Journ. IV, 151. 

 (Syn. : — P . Laicrcncii, Hook. f. in Hook. Lond. Journ. IV, 151.) 



Habitat. 



Victoria, — Mount Butler, Hardinge's Range, Cobberar Mountain at an 

 elevation of 3,000 to 6,000 feet (F. v. Mueller). 



Tasmania, — Mount Wellington (R.Brown); Mountain localities at an eleva- 

 tion of 3,000 to 6,000 feet J. 1). Hooker). 



I, HISTORICAL. 

 This species was described by Robert Brown in 1825, along with /'. data. 



II. SYSTEMATIC. 



Xo material of this species was procurable for investigation. Bentham in 

 " Flora Australiensis," Vol. VL, p. 248, describes it as a straggling densely- 

 branched shrub, usually low, but sometimes attaining a height of 12 feet. Leaves 

 crowded, linear, straight or falcate, rigid, varying from ^ in. long, and obtuse 

 to \ in. and acute, especially on luxuriant barren branches. Male amentum two to 

 three lines long, usually solitary and sessile or nearly so in the axils. Fruits much 

 smaller than in any other species, the fleshy receptacle about ij lines long, 

 sessile in the axil, the ovoid seed not much longer. 



I 



