Notes on South African Gycacls. 351 



was sent to me by Mr. Rattray, shows three main branches, of which 

 one (on the left) already shows clear indications of further branching. 

 The whole stem is undoubtedly a sympodium. Remarkable as this 

 specimen appears, Mr. Rattray referring to it says, "Even the speci- 

 men I sent gives you but little idea of the extent to which they branch. 

 To-day I started to dig up what I hoped was a young plant, and 

 found it to be only a small branch of quite a number." This habit 

 will account for the fact that the plants are- so frequently found in 

 ■clumps. Each stem (or branch) produces one or two leaves and, so 

 far as I have seen, never more than one cone (cf. Bot. Mag., I.e.), 

 which arises from an involucre of scale-leaves. The cone stands a 

 few inches above the ground, and is only seen on removing the 

 surrounding grasses (Plate VIII., fig. 2.). The peduncle is some- 

 times six or more inches long, its length being probably dependent 

 upon the height of the surrounding vegetation (Plate VIII. , fig. 3). 

 Specimens sent me by Mr. Wood from the vicinity of the Nahoon 

 River show that the foliage also of plants growing among tall grasses 

 becomes taller and more robust. The fact that the cones are 

 concealed among the grass is opposed to the view that wind-pollina- 

 tion occurs. Further information with reference to this matter will, 

 it is hoped, be forthcoming. Apogeotropic roots are usually found 

 and are inhabited by a Nostoc. Their development is less marked 

 than in Encephalartos Friclerici Guilielmi, which grows in a drier 

 soil. 



SUMMARY. 



1. Subterranean branching is a marked feature of Encephalartos 

 Friclerici Guilielmi and of Stangeria. In both cases it plays a part 

 in vegetative reproduction not less important than in many ferns 

 with subterranean rhizomes. 



2. The cones are lateral in position in E. Friclerici Guilielmi and 

 in E. Altensteinii, and the growth of the stem is in both cases 

 monopodial. 



3. E. Friclerici Guilielmi, which is subject to strong insolation, 

 cones much more freely than either E. Altensteinii or E. villosus — 

 both, especially the latter, being shade-species. 



4. In E. Altensteinii cones are not infrequent on plants growing 

 in more or less open positions exposed to sunshine. As far as is 

 known they occur very rarely, if at all, on plants in densely shaded 

 situations. A few observations support a similar conclusion for 

 E. villosus {cf. Pfejfer, pp. 91, 92). 



5. It is probable that other exceptional conditions such as are 



