Female Strobilus in . Podocarpus. 
535 
the rate of growth are available. In the older cones the ovules show the 
prothallus contracted in every case. These ovules are in the pre-fertilization 
stage, as archegonia can be traced in the contracted prothallial tissue, and the 
pollen-tubes have completely penetrated the apex of the nucellus. 
In Podocarpus , in all sections except § DACRYCARPUS, the ‘ epimatium ’ 
(lamina of the ovuliferous scale) is described ( 40 , p. 18) as being free from 
the short fleshy point of the ‘ carpel ’ (lamina of the fertile bract), which the 
ovule greatly exceeds. 
The ‘carpels’ are described by Pilger ( 40 , p. 13) as extremely rudi- 
mentary, and of the scale-like leaves which in their entirety represent the 
‘ female flower ’ of the Podocarpoideae (meist zu einem Teil fertil als Carpiden 
entwickelt) generally only one is fertile and can function as a ‘carpel’. 
In § NAGEIA in some species a ‘ receptaculum ’ ( 1 . c., p. 1 5) is developed, 
in others not. When there is no development the stalk of the £ receptaculum ’ 
is not naked but bears rudiments of scale leaves, while the scales (Schuppen) 
of the ‘ receptaculum ’ are not decussate, being present in greater numbers 
in spiral sequence (1. c., p. 16). 
In P. vitiensis the peduncle is covered with imbricating scale leaves 
as described in the two former species, which do not appear ‘ rudimentary ’ 
when examined in this early stage. The strobilus consists of six to ten 
bracts (Fig. 35, strob ) which show the same spreading laminae and elongated 
bases fused with the axis of the peduncle general in the order. The 
terminal, or sometimes the two terminal bracts (Fig. 16, f. br.) are fertile. 
These bracts are sub-opposite and the laminae show a protective function 
in the young stage (Fig. 15, o. s.), folding over the fertile bract and the 
ovuliferous scale, and opening out later (Fig. 16, .9. br). To describe these 
bracts as scales is hardly logical, as their organization is entirely similar to 
that of the foliage leaf ; also the spiral sequence of the scars of the caducous 
bract laminae seen on the mature peduncle may be due to subsequent 
development during the elongation of the axis. In this species the 
laminae of the bracts persist till the fertilization stage (Fig. 1 6,f. br). 
A bract can hardly be described as a rudimentary scale merely because 
the lamina is caducous, the scars alone being present at maturity. This 
fact would rather point to an advance in economical organization, a useless 
member being shed when no longer required. 
In Fig. 15 the lamina of the fertile bract encloses the ovuliferous 
scale (/. br. and o.s.) with ovule, reaching to the apex of the same. In 
longitudinal section of P .ferruginea in the same stage, the structure of which, 
with the exception of the broadened apex, is identical with that obtaining 
in P. vitiensis , the lamina of the fertile bract is seen to be perfectly free 
from that of the scale (PI. LI II, Fig. 76). In Fig. 77 in transverse section the 
base of the bract is shown coalescing with the base of the scale, but, as in 
§ DACRYCARPUS, there is no fusion of bundles ; both vascular systems remain 
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