Female Strobihis in Podocarpus. 519 
cialized as a carpel. There is, however, no vascular connexion between 
that lamina and the ovular supplies, and it is difficult to see how the 
carpellary function obtains either when it is free as in Eupodocarpus , or 
when fused with the ovuliferous scale as in D aery carpus. 
This 1 carpel ’ or bract lamina is described as a much reduced and 
extraordinary small carpel ; it is, however, unmodified in the youngest 
stage in all the sections, even when fused with the lamina of the ovuli- 
ferous scale, and does not develop with the ovule, except where there is 
fusion, and may even be shed entirely, as in § STACHYCARPUS, before the 
fertilization stage. 
The ‘ epimatium ’ or ovuliferous scale is considered to be a ligula-like 
‘ excrescence ’ of the 6 carpel ’ ; but here again the vascular system of the 
4 excrescence ’ bears no relation to that of the so-called carpel, but main- 
tains complete independence, even where there is fusion of both laminae 
(PI. XLIX, Figs. 8 and 9). 
The ‘carpel’ is also served by one vascular strand only (PL LI 1 1 , 
Fig. 77) with normal orientation, whereas the ‘excrescence’ generally 
shows two (PI. LIII, Fig. 77), and exceptionally four (PI. LI II, Fig. 73), 
all with inverted orientation. 
As it is usual to distinguish the sporangium-bearing member in the 
Coniferae as the ovuliferous scale, that name has been adhered to in this paper. 
Pilger’s diagnosis for each section is inserted before the description 
of the species which come under the same, to emphasize better the 
systematic position, and also for purposes of comparison. 
Historical Summary of the Literature. 
The literature on the structure of the strobilus or ‘female flower’ 
of Podocarpus is so voluminous, and the views held on the subject so 
divergent, that it has been thought advisable to give a summary of the 
principle work on the subject. It is the sum total of this work which 
is embodied in our knowledge and opinions of the group at the present day. 
With one or two exceptions the bulk of this work has been carried out 
on herbarium specimens, mostly collected in localities not easily acces- 
sible and chiefly in mature condition. It is not surprising, therefore, that 
interpretations based on laborious work on incomplete material should have 
resulted in many conflicting theories. 
As it is desired to restrict this investigation to Podocarpus , all work on 
the other genera in Taxaceae, where not strictly comparative, has been 
omitted. This position also applies to all references to the morphological 
value of the megasporophyll or ovuliferous scale in the Coniferae in general. 
The voluminous literature on that subject has been admirably summarized 
by Worsdell ( 60 ), and recent investigators disclaim all intention of entering 
into that vexed question. 
Mm2 
