Morphology of the Female Flower of Gnetum. 
83 
MM. Lignier and Tison have considered this question, and, for an obvious 
lack of evidence, have answered it in the negative. * 
The chief difficulty is presented by the so-called male flowers of Gnetum 
and Ephedra. But as long as there exists any doubt as to the correctness 
of the current interpretation of these sporangiophores and their perianth," f 
the possibility that the hypothetical primitive structure of §5 (p. 82) and 
the reduced hermaphrodite flower of Welwitschia are more nearly related 
than at present seems possible, cannot be dismissed. 
National Botanic Gardens, 
KiRSTENBOSCH, 
Jime, 1916. 
Note. — This paper owes its origin to a letter dated December 22nd, 
1915, in which the late Professor Lignier discussed the interpretation of the 
Gnetalean flower adopted by him and his collaborator, M. Tison. The 
greater part of it was written in the expectation that it would have the 
benefit of Professor Lignier's criticism. It is completed in a spirit of 
homage to the memory of a distinguished botanist. 
* Lignier and Tison, 1913, p. 72. 
t Pearson, 1915, C. 
