18 A SPECIES OF GNETUM FROM SINGAPORE 
contain as many as seven flowers each (our species has parastichies of four 
members). 
(4) The presence of cupular mucilage cavities, — a character hitherto 
believed to be possessed solely by the African Gneta. It is also of interest 
to note in this connection that the mucilaginous degeneration of the pith in 
the older parts of the inflorescences of the African species is apparently 
without its counterpart in this Malayan form. 
(5) The constitution of the apical segment of the inflorescence; viz. an 
aborted terminal meristem with a concrescent cupule. 
(6) The absence of vascular bundles passing out from the main stele to 
the top of each floral complex, — the so-called “ internodal or ‘ descending ’ 
traces.” Herein this species conforms in every respect with the suggestion 
deduced by Professor Pearson in regard to the Indo-Malayan forms, i.e. 
suppressed internodes are correlated with suppressed internodal traces. 
(7) The lack of anything which can be identified with the “augmenting 
bundles ” described by Mrs Thoday 1 in the female spikes of many Gneta. 
1 Thoday (1911). 
Botanical Laboratory, 
South African College. 
LITERATURE 
Karsten, G., 1893. Zur Entwickelungs-Gesckichte einiger Gattung Gnetum. Cohn’s 
Beitrage z. Biol, der Pflanzen, Bd. vi. p. 337. 
Pearson, H. H. W., 1912. On the Microsporangium and Microspore of Gnetum, with 
some notes on the structure of the Inflorescence. Ann. Bot., vol. 26, p. 603. 
, 1915. A note on the Inflorescence and Flower of Gnetum. Ann. Bol. Herb., 
vol. 1, p. 152. 
Thoday, Mary G., 1911. The female Inflorescence and Ovules of Gnetum Africanum, 
with notes on Gnetum Scandens. Ann. Bot., vol. 25, p. 1101. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE I 
Lettering. Ax. = Axis of inflorescence. C. = Cupule. D. = Diverticula of mucilage 
cavity. F.T. = Flower trace. H. = Septate hairs. L.T. = Leaf trace. M. = Mucilage cavity. 
M.A. = Mucilage cavity of apical segment. Ph. = Phloem. R. = Leaf trace branches. 
R.M. = Parts of roof of mucilage cavity. S. = Bundles of stem stele. V.B. = Vascular 
bundle. X. = Stem apex. Xy. = Xylem. 
Fig. 1. Transverse section through upper part of cupule. Semidiagrammatic. 
„ 2. Median longitudinal section of tip of inflorescence. Semidiagrammatic. x 15. 
„ 3. Longitudinal section to show vascular system. Diagrammatic, x 10. 
„ 4. Section K — K' of Fig. 3. x 12. 
„ 5. Part of section P — P' of Fig. 3. x 21. 
