THE TASMANIAN TLOEA. 277 



4. PHTLLOCLADUS. 



Female amenta of few bracts, sometimes only one, each, bearing a sinp^le erect 

 ovule. The bracts become thickened and fleshy in fruit. Seed ovoid, rather 

 pointed, sunk in a fleshy aril. 



A small o;enus, but distributed from East India to New Zealand. 



P. EHOMBOiDALis, Rich. Erect, with rather regular spreading or depressed 

 branches, sometimes 50-60 feet. Lateral branches expanded into irregularly 

 rhomboid leaf-like organs. Leaves reduced to small acute scales. Male amenta 

 about 3 lines long, usually 2 or 3 together. Female amenta terminal, about 

 2 lines long. Thalamia asplenifoUa, Spr. 



Common on mountains, principally in the south and west. 



5. PODOCARPUS. 



Female amenta of 2-4 much-reduced bracts, connate with the peduncle 

 Ovules 1 or 2, protruding from the bracts, anatropous. Fruit a solitary, 

 terminal, exposed seed, with an enlarged succulent peduncle. 



A small genus, found in most tropical and temperate parts of the Southern 

 Hemisphere and Eastern Asia. 



P. ALPINA, R. Br. Small, much-branched, creeping over rocks or sub-erect. 

 Leaves alternate, thick, narrow-oblono; to linear-obtuse, ^-| inch. Male amenta 

 axillary, solitary, but sometimes many near together. Seed about 3 lines long. 

 Nageia alpina, F. v. M. 



Common on most mountain-tops ; also in Victoria and New South Wales. 



6. ATHROTAXIS. 



Female amenta of numerous spirally -imbricate scales, each scale bearing 3-6 

 pendulous ovules. Fi'uit a small, globular, erect, terminal cone ; the scales loose, 

 woody, thickened above. Seeds . compressed, broadly winged. Male amenta 

 terminal, solitary. 



The genus consists of the three Tasmanian plants. 



Leaves 1-2 lines long. 



Leaves closely pressed to the stem, very obtuse ... 1. A. cuprexsoides. 



Leaves looser, acute ... ... .. ... ... 2. A. laxifolia. 



Leaves 3-4 lines long ... ... ... ... ... 3. A. selaginoides. 



1. A. CUPKBSSOIDES, Don. A small erect tree, attaining 40 feet. Leaves 

 closely appressed and imbricating, thick, keeled, and very obtuse, about li line 

 long. Cone \ inch diameter, spherical, the apex of the scales nearly orbicular, 

 with a short dorsal point. 



Western mountains. Lake St. Clair, Field Range to the west and south- 

 west. 



2. A. LAXirOLiA, JS. Similar to the last in habit. Leaves erect and imbricate 

 but not closely appressed, thick and keeled but acute, about 2 lines long. Cone 

 nearly spherical, about ^ inch, the scales thickened above and ending in a short 

 point. 



Western mountains. Field Range, near La Perouse, 



3. A. SBLAGINOIDES, Don. A small erect tree, extensively but symmetrically 

 branched, 40-50 feet high. Leaves 3-4 lines long, lanceolate, acute, thick, closely 

 but loosely imbricating, slightly incurved. Cones f inch, broadly ovate, the 

 scales ending in an almost membranous acute point. 



Western mountains, Mount Field, Mount Hartz, Adamson Peak, Mount La 

 Perouse to West Coast. 



