DR. J. D. HOOKER ON WELWITSCHIA. 7 
Planta lignosa, simplex, 2-phylla, gummi colloideum exsudans. Truncus crassus, obconicus v. 
turbinatus v. subglobosus, plus minus compressus, ambitu infra folia transverse sulcatus v. undulatus, 
basi in radicem fusiformem brevem v. elongatam inferne ramosam contractus, supra folia in lobos 
2 amplos depressos monstrosos rugosos floriferos foliis respondentes dilatatus. Folia 2, opposita, 
longissima, lineari-ligulata, obtusa, crasse coriacea, mox valde dilacerata, et in lacinias angustissimas 
emarcidas basi seepe discretas fissa, marginibus integerrimis, utrinque nervis parallelis creberrimis 
striata; basibus membranaceis truncum fere circumambientibus, et in fissuram horizontalem pro- 
fundam trunci receptis. Lodi floriferi valde indurati, trunco latiores, medio depressi, integri v. 
multilobati, in vertice jugis concentricis rugosis foveolatis (annis totidem? floriferis respondentibus) 
operti. Pedunculi strobiliferi numerosi, ambitu loborum in jugis externis siti, dichotome ramosi, 
teretes, pseudo-articulati, ad nodos tumidi et 2-bracteati, bracteis oppositis persistentibus. Strodili 
floriferi parvi; fructiferi 2-pollicares, coccinei, squamis persistentibus. Flores minuti. Fructus 
amplus, membranaceus. ‘ 
WELWITSCHIA MIRABILIS. 
Hab. In desertis petrosis ore occidentalis Africee tropice australis prope Caput Negro (F. Welwitsch, et 
J. J. Monteiro). Damara Land prope Waalvisch Bay (T. Baines et C. J. Andersson). 
Locus in Systemate Naturali.—Non obstantibus forma et structura trunci, dispositione systematis vas- 
cularis, floribus hermaphroditis, et evolutione anomala embryonis, planta ista inter Gnetaceas prope 
Ephedram, ob inflorescentiam strobilaceam, squamas 2-nervias, perianthii formam, et stamina, ovula et 
semina omnino cum Gnetaceis congruentia, sine dubio militat. 
Genera tres Gnetacearum notis sequentibus dignoscas. 
1. Gnetum. Sguame strobili heterogami in discos carnosos peltatos confluentes, post anthesin 
immutatz, omnes floriferze. Flores conferti, unisexuales, filis articulatis immixti. Fi. dé. Perianthium 
2-labiatum. Stamen solitarium, filamento 2-nervi, loculis polliniferis 2. Fri. 2. Perianthium 
ampullaceum. Ovuli integumenta 2. Fructus drupaceus.—Arbores erecte v. arbuscula scandentes. 
Folia opposita, ampla, penninervia. 
2. Epuepra. Squame strobili homogami per paria connate, post anthesin ampliate v. carnose, 
inferiores vacuze, 2 terminales majores 1-flore. Flores unisexuales, filis articulatis 0. Fu. ¢. Peri- 
anthium membranaceum, 2-labiatum. Stamina 2-8, monadelpha; antherz capitate, 2-loculares. 
Fi. 2. Perianthium ampullaceum, 3-gonum. Ovuli integumentum solitarium. Fructus siccus, 
squamis amenti membranaceis v. carnosis inclusus.—Suffrutices aphylli, rhizomate lignoso ; ramis 
teretibus, articulatis, striatis, ad nodos squamosis. Folia squameformia. 
3. Wetwitscnia. Sguame strobili homogami 4-fariam imbricate, perplurime floriferz, fructifere 
valde aucte. Flores hermaphroditi et foeminei. Fu. %. Perianthium 4-phyllum, foliolis 2-seriatis, 
interioribus connatis. Stamina 6, monadelpha; antherz 3-loculares. Ovuli integumentum solitarium, 
disco stigmatiformi terminatum. Fu. 2. Perianthium ampullaceum, compressissimum, 2-alatum. 
Ovulum maris, sed processu styliformi recto apice simplici lacero. Fructus siccus, squamis membra- 
naceis strobili velatus.—Truncus odconicus, lignosus. Folia 2, opposita, longissime linearia, dilacerata, 
nervis parallelis. 
Trunk.—Eaternal Characters. 
The trunk of Welwitschia differs essentially in its mode of development from that of 
any other plant known to me, and indeed does not even approximate to any. It con- 
sists of three more or less distinct portions :—(1) a compressed swollen body, which 1 
shall call the stock; this gives off the leaves, and is surmounted by (2) a bilobed crown 
