The staminate strobilus consists of a series of closely overlapping sterile bracts, in four vertical rows, completely enveloping the tip of the axis bearing numerous stamens. The large adaxial resin cavity that occurs in the stamen occupies the site of three abortive sporangia. The male gametophyte has no prothallial cell, and the male cells are very unequal, resembling those of Taxus. The pollen tube is exceedingly variable in the rate and direction of its advance through the nucellar cap, sometimes pushing in the embryo sac while it is in an early free-nucleate stage. The ovulate strobilus consists of four enveloping bracts and a single terminal ovule with two integuments. Extensive intercalary growth below the mother-cell forms the bulk of the mature ovule and seed. There is no organization of a special digestive layer around the mother-cell. The solitary archegonium initial appears as soon as walls are formed, is always at one side of the central axis of the gametophyte, and forms a two-celled neck. T...