334 



G. R. Wieland — Notes on Living Cycads. 



the mature seeds of which, though not very greatly larger than 

 the ovules, reach in the species Cycas (Thouarssii) circinalis 

 the size of goose eggs. 



For some reason the trunk shown in figure 1 branched early, 

 without both branches surviving. Or perhaps the branch that 

 may have arisen from b, figure 1, after vigorous growth, has 

 lost connection with the original tap root. A branch or crown 

 does not necessarily cease to grow after bearing cones. 



The free branching of these cycads is one of their most 

 interesting characteristics. A male or female plant often gives 



2 



Figure 2. — Zamia floridana DC. $ x 3^. 



Miami, Florida, Nov. 15. 



A slightly bifurcated trunk, bearing three cones and nine leaves on the left 



and two cones and ten leaves on the right. The trunk is shown as if cut 



away about on, or a little beneath, the ground level. In many instances only 



the fronds and cones appear above ground. 



rise to a whole clump of the same sex. Professor Macfarland 

 reports a plant with 39 staminate cones. Also, when a trunk is 

 cut off below the crown of leaves several new crowns may form, 

 and it is even said that " pieces of the trunks will grow like 

 potato cuttings." This strong tendency to reproduce by means 

 of branches recalls the closely branched clumps of Cycadeoidea 

 Marshiana from the Black Hills. In one instance, as figured 

 by the writer,* there are five closely set branches, four being 

 of very large size. 



* Yale Scientific Monthly, March, 1900. 



