160 



CONIFERALES (RECENt) 



[CH. 



Acmopyle. This generic name was given to an imperfectly investigated New- 

 Caledonian Conifer formerly known as Dacrydium Pancheri. The sessUe, 

 decurrent, falcate leaves on the lateral branches (1 — 1-6 cm. x 2-5 mm.) are 

 a characteristic feature, those on the main axis being small and scale-like^. 



A B 



Fig. 708. A, Dacrydium elatum. B, Dacrydium araucarioides. (From specimens 

 in the British Museum.) 



Pherosphaera. The vegetative shoots resemble those of Microcachrys and 

 some Lycopods. The genus is peculiar among the Podocarpineae in the absence 

 of an epimatium. Sinnott^ regards the megastrobOi, composed of 2 — 5 one-' 

 seeded scales, as 'the last step in reduction," but the difficulty is to discriminate 

 between simplicity as a primitive and as a reduction-phenomenon. Phyllo- 

 dadua (fig. 675). The cladodes have a central rib and several vascular 



1 Pilger (03) p. 117. Mr Sahni (Emmanuel College, Cambridge) has in prepar- 

 ation an account of Acmopyle based on material collected in New Caledonia by 

 Mr Compton. 



2 Sinnott(13)p. 73; see also Masters (93) p. 6; Hooker. J. D., Icon. Plant., 1882, 

 PI. 1383; Baker and Smith (10). 



