BRIEPER ARTICLES 
BISPORANGIATE CONES OF PINUS MONTANA 
(WITH ONE FIGURE) 
In the latter part of June 1915 the writer found 3 clusters of bi- 
sporangiate cones of Pinus montana on a tree along the University 
Drive, Madison, Wisconsin. Nearly all the cones of each cluster bore 
both macrosporophylls and microsporophylls, 
the latter being in every case on the lower 
portion of the cone. The macrosporophylls 
were borne in most cases on only the upper 
portion of the cone. In a few instances 
the cones were almost wholly staminate or 
pistillate. The sporophylls and spore sacs 
appeared to be normal in every respect. No 
abnormalities were observed in the pollen 
grains which were stained for a micro- 
scopical examination. For the past two 
years the same tree has failed to produce 
cones of the type described. 
Bisporangiate cones have been reported 
in only one other species of pine, namely, 
in P. maritima by GOEBEL (1900). How- 
ever, in a number of other gymnosperms 
such cones have been described. More than 
50 years ago DicKson (1860) reported them 
Fic. 1.—Cluster of bispo- in Picea excelsa, later SHAW (1896) in 
rangiate cones of Pinus é 
upbiskeas Carle oeick Sequoia, and more recently RENNER (1904) 
pistillate, lighter portion 12 Juniperus communis, and HILL and 
staminate; reduced one-half. DE FRAINE (1909) in Pseudotsuga Douglasit. 
In every instance, thus far reported, the 
microsporophylls and macrosporophylls occupied the same relative 
positions on the cone as in Pinus montana.—W. N. Steir, University 
of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. 
Botanical Gazette, vol. 66) [68 
