1915] AASE—M EGASPOROPHYLLS OF CONIFERS 301 
Araucaria, is absent, but the general appearance of a slight eleva- 
tion behind the ovule suggests the possibility of a fused body. 
The vascular supply begins as a single stout trace a little to one 
side at the base of the short wide cylinder gap. The trace increases 
in size, and in the outer one-third of the cortex a branching begins 
which in the lamina of the scale results in about thirteen bundles. 
About half-way between the insertion of the sporophyll and the 
insertion of the ovule a small strand splits off from one of the median 
bundles, swings around 180°, and becomes an inverted bundle 
Fics. 155-161.—Araucaria Rulei, young sporophyll: figs. 155-160, course of 
bundles from strobilus axis to free portion of bract, upper bundles differentiated in 
cortex and base of sporophyll (B, bract; S, scale; 9, ovule); fig. 161, longitudinal 
section of sporophyll; 8.5. 
opposite its sister bundle. The inverted strand may fork, and also 
inverted strands may spring from several of the median lower bundles 
and these strands may divide so that the number of upper bundles 
varies from one to several. In any case, each of the upper 
bundles, after giving off a phloem-like strand to each ovule, ends in 
large irregular tracheids. 
PoDOCARPINEAE 
In most of the Podocarpineae a definite strobilus is absent, the 
fructification consisting in most cases of one or two fertile sporo- 
phylls. In many forms there is a tendency for some part of the 
fructification to mature fleshy. 
