VOLUME LX NUMBER 1 
ELE 
BOTANICAL ‘GAZETTE 
PIPE OLS 
THE ORIGIN AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE 
ARAUCARIANS. I 
L. LANCELOT BURLINGAME 
Beaute I can make the purpose of this paper clear in no better 
way than by quoting a sentence or two from a recent paper by 
_ JEFFREY (42): 
The comparative, developmental, pal tanical, and imental investi- 
gation of the Coniferales is likely to throw more light on the stable and sound 
general principles of biology than that of any other large group of animals or 
plants, on account of their great geological age and remarkably continuous 
display, both as regards external form and internal structure in the strata of 
the curth: < .. . 
It is finally clear that morphologists will find it necessary in the future 
more and more to adopt certain general working principles, as for example 
in the sister sciences of chemistry and physics. If there prove on trial to be no 
generally applicable fundamental principles in morphology, that branch of 
biological science cannot be too soon cast into the outer darkness, which pre- 
vails outside the scientific view of nature. 
It is doubtful whether anyone is likely to dispute the truth of the 
first sentence quoted above. At any rate, it is sufficiently accurate 
to make an examination of the various opinions concerning the 
origin and relationships of the araucarians well worth while. It 
is a conspicuous fact that among those most familiar with the facts 
now known regarding conifers, the most diverse opinions are 
strongly held. It is further to be observed that these various 
opinions are grounded on the different values set upon different 
I 
