BENNETTITEAE 575 



recognised, and its connection with the cotyledonary 

 bundles traced. 1 The number of seeds in which the 

 embryo is well preserved is so considerable as to leave 

 no doubt regarding the correct interpretation of the 

 main facts. The general structure of the dicotyledonous 

 embryo is in no way surprising in a plant of Cycadean 

 affinities, but the practically exalbuminous character of 

 the seed is without example among recent Gymnosperms. 

 Of course, in speaking of Bennettiteae as Gymnosperms, 

 ' we are referring rather to their presumed affinities than 

 to the actual structure of the fruit, which comes very near 

 to being angiospermous. 



The interseminal scales, which combine to form the 

 pericarp, have proved difficult to investigate, owing to 

 their state of preservation. In their lower part, where 

 they pass between the pedicels of the seeds, they are 

 crushed out of shape, and much disorganised, so as to 

 be reduced in many cases to a vascular bundle with 

 an irregular epidermis loosely surrounding it, the inter- 

 mediate tissue having disappeared. The interseminal 

 scales are somewhat similar in structure to the pedicels 

 of the seeds, but the homologies of their respective , 

 tissues are not yet clearly understood. 



The expanded outer ends of the interseminal scales 

 unite to form the " pericarp," a dense, apparently 

 continuous zone, starting at the base of the fruit, from 

 the sides of the receptacle, and extending, with 

 increased thickness, over the top. In its upper 

 portion, as already explained, it encloses the seeds, 

 and is perforated by their micropyles. Its external 

 surface is furrowed, the furrows forming a network. 



1 Solms-Laubach, I.e. p. 440. 



