550 
Gibbs . — On the Development of the 
The distribution of the latter is from East India, through Indo-China, 
Malaya, to New Guinea and Fiji. But the species in question from the 
latter country would be endemic. 
The strobili occur in the axils of the upper leaves of the shoots, the 
peduncle varying in length from 3-5 mm. The bracts are from five to six 
in number, the lowest pair unmodified and caducous, the upper with the 
bract bases being exceptionally long and attenuated (Figs. 48 and 49, br.bs.) ; 
the free laminae, as usual in the order, drying up in maturer stages (Figs. 50 
and 51, lam. brs). The upper bracts may be either equal (Figs. 48, 50, and 
51) or sub-equal in size (Fig. 49) ; the arrangement also varies from sub- 
opposite (Figs. 48-50) to sub-spiral (Figs. 49 and 51). 
One (Figs. 48, 49, and 51) or two (Fig. 50) bracts may be fertile, 
but in the latter case, though opposite, one ovule is always younger than 
the other (Fig. 50), which shows, as before noted, that the opposite and 
decussate arrangement is merely apparent, and due to economy of space in 
the arrangement of the aerial portions of the members of the shoot, an 
arrangement always liable to modification, but that is not the inherent basis 
of construction. 
Histology. In a microphotograph of a radial longitudinal section of 
this species (PI. LIII, Fig. 78) in about the same stage as PI. LI, Fig. 49 
(dividing megaspore), the ovuliferous scale forms with the integument an 
unusually long micropyle. It is also very elongated in the basal region 
(PI. LIII, Fig. 78). 
The vascular system is of the usual type, consisting of two inverted 
bundles as previously described. Secondary branches run half-way down 
the lamina of the scale (Fig. 78), an unusual development at so young 
a stage. The secondary branches terminate each in a group of tracheides 
in the region of the micropyle. Each bundle is accompanied by a resin 
canal with functioning epithelium. 
The integument shows the zone of starch and tannin cells with epidermal 
layer of the same. The hypodermal cells of the tip of the integument 
have the usual lignified and spiral thickening. 
The nncellus is limited at the base by the zone of nutrient cells (Fig. 78). 
A tapetum of several layers surrounds the female gametophyte, which 
is in the dividing megaspore stage (P'ig. 78). Older stages show many 
cells of the mesophyll tissue of the scale developing as stone cells. The 
micropyle is attenuated, the integument keeping pace in length with the 
long lamina of the scale, which possibly homologizes with the length of the 
foliage leaves in this species. The apex of the nucellus is not produced as 
a beak, but rather forms a depression. The nutritive zone of basal cells is 
very large round the nucellus, which is limited on the interior by a well-marked 
tapetum surrounding a contracted ? gametophyte in the fertilization stage. 
