220 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [SEPTEMBER 
described as “‘uninerva”’ (see SCHIMPER 22, UNGER 32, etc.), and 
THOMAS (28) has pointed out that the stomata, at least in Taxitis 
zamioides, occur in two bands, one on either side of the midrib. 
Palissya is also “‘uninerva”’ in Endlicher’s original description; 
and in P. sphenolepsis (19) and P. Brauni (21), the stomata have 
the same distribution as in Taxitis. It seems clear, accordingly, 
that these Indian specimens do not conform to the Tavxitis type, 
as represented either by the living Tsuga, Abies, Taxus, etc., or by 
the fossil Taxitis or Palissya. Among other existent forms the 
absence of parallel veins separates them from the Araucarineae 
and from the genus Podocarpus. A possible affiliation would 
be with Dacrydium or Arthrotaxis, but in both these genera, al- 
though there is no obvious midrib in gross specimens, preparations 
of the cuticle show a marked astomatic path running down the 
center of the lower surface of the leaf. By the process of elimina- 
tion, we are driven to the only other flat-leaved conifers, namely 
Cupressineae of the Retinospora type, such as are found in seedlings 
of Thuya or Juniperus. Here, also, the stomata are scattered 
irregularly, sometimes on the upper surface, sometimes on the 
lower, sometimes avoiding the midrib, but often disregarding its 
presence; furthermore, the leaves are not constricted at the base, 
and they are markedly decurrent. The only objection to referring 
them to that family is the spiral phyllotaxis, but when the diversity 
existing in nearly related forms, both living and fossil, is considered, 
it seems doubtful whether this point is of much importance. For 
example, the leaves of Podocarpus are spiral except § NAGEIA, 
where they are decussately opposite; again, in all the Araucarineae 
they are spiral except in the two fossil forms Thuyites cretacea and 
Androvettia (14). The different types of phyllotaxis sometimes 
found i in the same a Opes add further evidence in the same direc- 
tion. Thus, the Reti like seedling leaves of Thuya and Junt- 
perus are occasionally arranged i in a spiral fashion, which soon gives 
way to characteristic verticils. DAGuILLON (7) has described an 
Abies seedling with whorled instead of spiral leaves, and MASTERS 
(17) one of Cephalotaxus with first a pair of opposite leaves and then 
a whorl of four. Moreover, although the foliage leaves of Micro- 
cachrys are decussately opposite, the sporophylls, both micro- 
sporangiate and megasporangiate, are in spirals. 
