io6i 
Affinities of Sutclijfia. 
described in detail by Worsdell , 1 Gregg , 2 Matte , 3 and Hill and de Fraine , 4 
and are regarded by the first-named observer as giving additional weight to 
his view. The case of the seedling stem of Encephalartos Bar ter i is also 
brought forward as further evidence of its original polystelic ancestry. 
Matte 5 found in one individual only of this species three practically inde- 
pendent, distinct steles in place of the usual endarch cylinder ; this both he 
and Worsdell compare with Medullosa anglica , and regard as of the highest 
significance. This anomalous structure is undoubtedly of great interest, 
more especially when it is compared with a somewhat similar abnormal case 
of seedling anatomy described by Shaw 6 as occurring in a single specimen 
of Araucaria Bidwillii. This observer correlated the abnormality with the 
tuberous habit of the seedling, and it is interesting to note, therefore, the 
somewhat similar tuberous appearance presented by the seedling of En- 
cephalartos Barteri (Matte, PI. XVI, Fig. 257)* The question remains to be 
considered whether the cotyledonary node supplies reliable data for the 
elucidation of phylogenetic problems. The attention of several investiga- 
tors 7 has been directed of late years to the answering of this question, and, so 
far as one can judge from the evidence at present available, it is inadvisable 
to apply characters of seedling anatomy to solve broad phylogenetic 
questions. Only the main points of the evidence brought forward by 
Worsdell have been outlined, and no attempt at a complete discussion has 
been made, but it is hoped that sufficient indication has been given to show 
that the origin of Cycads from ‘ polystelic ’ ancestors is not yet satisfactorily 
proved. It is fully agreed that the probable origin of the Cycadaceae is 
along the Medullosean line, but from monostelic rather than from ‘ poly- 
stelic ’ forms. It is suggested that the central cylinder of a Cycadean stem 
was probably derived from a protostelic form, such, say, as occurred in the 
genus Sutclijfia , by the gradual disappearance of the internal tracheides. 
Extrafascicular zones and accessory cortical strands occur in precisely the 
same form in Sutclijfia, Medullosa , and recent Cycads. What the origin of 
these structures may be it is impossible at present to say, but there is no 
1 Worsdell : loc. cit., 1906, p. 147. 
2 Gregg : Anomalous Thickening in the Roots of Cycas Seemanni . Ann. of Bot., vol. i, 1887. 
8 Matte: loc. cit., p. 185, &c. 
4 Hill, T. G., and de Fraine, E. : On the Seedling Structure of Gymnosperms. III. Ann. 
of Bot., vol. xxiii, 1909, p. 442. 
5 Matte : loc. cit., p. 201. 
6 Shaw, F. J. F. : The Seedling Structure of Araucaria Bidwillii. Ann. of Bot., vol. xxiii, 
1909, p. 327, &c. J 
7 Hill, T. G. : On the Seedling Structure of Certain Piperales. Ann. of Bot., vol. xx, 1906. 
de Fraine, E. : On the Seedling Structure of Certain Cactaceae. Ann. of Bot., vol. xxiv, 1910. 
Hill, T. G., and de Fraine, E. : On the Seedling Structure of Certain Centrospermae. Ann. of 
Bot., Jan., 1912. Compton, R. H. : An Investigation of the Seedling Structure in the Leguminosae. 
Journ. Linn. Soc. (Bot.), vol. xli, June, 1912. Lee, E. : Observations on the Seedling Anatomy of 
Certain Sympetalae. I. Tubiflorae. Ann. of Bot., vol. xxvi, 1912. Hill, T. G., and de Fraine, E. : 
On the Influence of the Structure of the Adult Plant upon the Seedling. New Phyt., Oct., 1912. 
