Podocarpus spinul-osus , (Smith) R. Br. 315 
In Saxegothaea , where the ovule is a small appendage of the bract, the 
bundles supplying it arise by branching from the bundle of the sporophylh 
As the ovule has become relatively of more importance than the bract, its 
vascular supply has also become of more importance, until in Podocarpus 
the vascular supply of the ovule is carried down into the peduncle indepen¬ 
dently of the supply of the megasporophyll. This point of view has also 
been emphasized by Thomson (24), in regard to the megasporophyll of 
Dacrydium , in some species of which the behaviour of the bundles is very 
similar to that of Podocarpus. 
With regard to the branching of the ovular bundles, Favre (7) has 
rather vaguely described their behaviour in Podocarpus sinensis , where he 
says the ovular bundle divides a little below the summit of the organ into 
a large number of branches which extend downwards in the plane of 
separation of the integuments and so form a vascular cupule which is 
prolonged up to the point where the nucellus becomes free. In P. spinulosus 
and P. alpinus the (presumably) integumentary bundles are much less 
developed, and in Podocarpus sp. they are practically not developed at all. 
How the ovular bundles are to be homologized with those found in 
the ovules of other Gymnosperms (11) there are not at present sufficient 
data to decide. Havre’s species would apparently throw light on this 
question, but his description is too vague to be of much help. Moreover 
Strasburger’s description of P. chinensis (19), which is apparently the same 
species as P. sinensis, is almost identical with our description of P. spinulosus. 
In P. spinulosus and P. alpinus there seems to be an outer integu¬ 
mentary system arising from the chalazal bundles. Whether there is an 
inner integumentary system as well cannot yet be decided, but what facts 
there are available point against it. 
General Considerations. 
The relationships of Podocarpus have already been discussed at some 
length in the course of this paper. The genus seems to be a recently, 
modified type with close relationships to Dacrydium, Micro each rys, and 
Saxegothaea. Its present wide geographical range, the wings on the 
pollen-grains, the frequently functionless nature of the resin canals, and 
the peculiar structure of the female fructification are all considerations 
which point to this conclusion. Microcachrys and Saxegothaea are un¬ 
doubtedly more primitive than Dacrydium and Podocarpus. Saxegothaea 
would appear to be a connecting link with the Araucarieae, and the complex 
of prothallial cells in the pollen-grains of the Podocarpeae generally can 
be brought into relation to the numerous prothallial cells described for 
the pollen-grains of the Araucarieae. 
Miss Robertson (14) has pointed out that the somewhat isolated genus 
Phyllocladus has definite points of resemblance to Podocarpus, on the one 
