GYMNOSPERMAE 91 



Class I. Cycadales. 



Stems simple or divided into a few stout branches. 



Leaves pinnate. $ flowers as well as ? flowers spirally 



arranged in cones. Pollen bags on lower side of scales 



(sporophylls). Seeds with a fleshy coat. 



Fam. 1. Cycadaceae 



Class II. Coniferae. 



Stems branched. Leaves simple. $ flower resembling 

 a catkin. 



A. ? flowers pedunculate, solitary or in pairs, 



each one with 1 ovule. Pseudo-fruit glob- 

 ular, 1 -seeded, supported (Podocarpus) by 



the swollen apex of the peduncle. 



Fam. 2. Taxaceae 



B. $ flower a cone, consisting of 4 or more scales, 



each scale with 2 ovules. Ripe cone 



with woody scales and dry, nut-like seeds. 



Fam. 3. Pinaceae 



Class III. Gnetales. 



Stem (of Welwitschid) 2-lobed at the apex. Leaves 2, 

 simple, but lacerated into shreds. Dioecious. Cones of 

 both sexes arranged in cymes. $ flower formed of 6 stalked 

 pollen bags, surrounded by 4 bracts (pseudo-perianth), in 

 the centre an abortive ovule. $ flower an erect ovule, 

 surrounded by a tubular but broadly winged perianth. 

 The ripe seed nut-like, enclosed in the dry persistent 

 perianth. 



Fam. 4. Gnetaceae 



