ON THE COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF SCIADOPITYS. 103 
different levels from below upwards. In the upper seed- — the 
phenomena are similar, but in inverse order; the seed-scale 
gradually disappears, and the number of the hey is | tad 
from seven to five, three, and lastly to one only ; that one occupies 
the centre, the vessels disappear, and the seed- a becomes once 
more wholly ce ular. 
€ cones aie in the second year after their formation, pas 
as they are so ag known, at least by figure and description, it i 
not necessary to more than that their structure, in so far as 
regards the distribution of the liber and woody elements of their 
fibro-vascular bundles, is according to Kichler, an I hav 
myself observed, essentially, the same as in Pinus,* i.e. with the 
phloem above and the xylem below, the reverse of what is the case — 
in the “needle” of Pinus, but agreeing in so far with the 
arrangement in the needle of Sciadopitys. 
Scaleless Cones of Pinus muricata and of Cunninghamia« —It is 
ed above with the bracts of .. e cone. In the gel: case they 
pass gradually into thick spatulate bracts, terminating in a long 
acumen. In no case is any trace of seed visible.t Sections 
Srrough their bracts show 5 or 7 fibro-vascular bundles, embedded 
im cellular tissue, and which may he senees down to the vascular 
cylinder traversing the axis of the 
It is also interesting to compare “the appearances met with in 
proliferous cone of Cunninghamia sinensis with those of Diotopian. 
In these cones the seed-scales were absent, but the bracts were 
sed b 
surrounded by ong ioiinas cells. Isolated strengthening cells of 
r character were dispersed through the parenchyma. At the 
base two fibro-vascular bundles were seen (in all probability sub- 
divisions of on e), and these had their xylem directed inwards 
towards the axis, the phloem outwards as in true leaves. 
addition, there was a la ayer of transversely elongated cells, repre- 
senting the transfusion tissue of Van Mohl. Lastly, the upper 
eee erored with the usual epidermis. 
* Kichler, ‘ Ueber die ep corps Bliithen der Coniferen,’ Monatsber. R 
Acad. Wissenschaft, Berlin, 1881, p. 1048, tab. 1, figs. 10, 11, 12, 13. See also 
Van Ti eghem, ‘ Anatomie phe) de aN fleur femelle, &. des Coniferes,’ Ann, 
Se. Nat. 5 Serie, Bot. tom. x., p. 278, tab. 13 (figs. 18—21), Pinus,'Abies, Picea 
é Lariz, CG, edrus. 
t It is quite likely that in some species the seeds and seed-scales are not 
formed till long after the bracts, This is a point that —— inv tion. é 
