in the Female Flower of Dammara australis. 185 
tain extent, the development of the female flowers of Dammara 
australis, a plant of which has this summer produced cones 
in one of the hot-houses in:the Botanic Garden here.* 
These cones were first observed in the early part of May, 
but would have attracted attention sooner had they not been 
confined to the uppermost branches of the tree. The cones 
which I then obtained (May 10th) are axillary shoots. They 
are roundly oval in form, and vary from a little under to a little 
above an inch in length, exclusive of the stalk and that portion 
bearing the bud-scales of the cone. 
The scales of the cone are nearly triangular in outline, and 
more or less elongated; broadest a little above the base, at 
that part where the scale is bent upon itself. Just at its base 
the scale is rounded at its angles or slightly auricled. (See 
fig. 1.) 
In the best developed of these cones (see fig. 7) the scales 
are more or less patent, the lower ones deflexed. The lower 
scales are more elongated and acute than the upper; and a good 
number of them, although persistent and becoming enlarged 
along with the other scales, are sterile. The bud-scales vary 
in extent of development in different cones. In the cone re- 
presented in fig. 7 the lowermost pair, which are identical in 
form to those found in leaf-buds, present a diminished, almost 
bar-like lamina, with dilated base (fig. 7, a). In the pair next 
above, the lamina is still further reduced, with the base more 
manifestly dilated. In the succeeding ones we lose the ap- 
pearance of a lamina altogether; the scales being short and 
rounded, or slightly pointed. They soon pass off above into 
more elongated and pointed structures (fig 7 d), which lead 
at once to the so-called squame fructifere. Of these bud- 
scales the first two pairs are opposite and decussate, but they 
eradully pass off above into the more complex spiral of the 
cone. They soon wither, and ultimately fall off. 
* This plant had produced cones previously (in 1859 ?), some of which I ex- 
amined last winter. I accordingly asked one of the gardeners, William Bell, 
an enthusiastic and intelligent botanist, to look at the plant from time to time, 
so that the cones might be obtained early, in the event of its flowering this 
season. ‘To his attention, and to the kind permission of Mr M‘Nab and Pro- 
fessor Baifour, I am indebted for the materials of this investigation. 
