GNETACEAE 



107 



Class III. GNETALES. 



Stem woody with vessels in the secondary wood. No 

 resin ducts. Leaves opposite. Flowers with perianth. 

 No spermatozoids. 



Fam. 4. GNETACEAE. 



The only S. A. genus is IVelwitschia, to which the 

 following diagnosis applies. (Plates 20, 21; Figs. 68 a and b.) 



Dioecious. Stem simple. Leaves two. Male flowers 

 in spikes, which are about an inch long, arranged in 



Fig. 68 a. Welwitschia Bainesii (Hook, fil.) Carriere. Piece of stem with 4 fully developed 

 female inflorescences, the cones ready for pollination. 2/3 nat. size. 



complex cymose inflorescences. A number of such cymes 

 appear on the margin of the crown of the stem at the 

 insertion of the leaves. A spike contains from 30 — 50 



14 — 2 



