Seedling.—The cotyledons are two in number, and on germination remain below the soil enclosed in the seed (Plate 15f). The caulicle, to which is attached the cotyledons, is thick, fleshy, and carrot-shaped, serving as a store of nutriment for the plant after that of the cotyledons is exhausted; it is directed downward into the soil, and terminates in a long, slender, fibrous root, which gives off a few lateral rootlets. The plumule, the portion of the axis with its accompanying leaves, which is formed in the embryo prior to generation, protrudes between the stalks of the cotyledons, speedily becomes erect, and develops into the young stem, which bears leaves similar in shape to those of the adult plant. The cotyledons sometime after the stem has grown well above ground wither away, the ends of their stalks being visible on the upper part of the caulicle. At the end of the first season the stem is 4 or 5 inches long, and bears alternate leaves about ¾ inch long, gradually increasing in size from below upwards and forming a crowded tuft at the summit. The lower end or so of the stem is reddish, with leaves small and scale-like. The fusiform caulicle, about an inch in length, is continued below into a root 8 or 9 inches long.
Sexes.—The Araucaria is usually diœcious, the trees being either male or female. It was long supposed that there was a difference in the habit of the two sexes, due, doubtless, to Pavon's account of the matter. Araucarias differ, however, remarkably in habit, and no inference can be drawn as to sex from the habit or character of the growth of an individual. Monœcious trees (as is the case in nearly every diœcious species) are of exceptional and very rare occurrence. The most noted of these occurred at Bicton.[1] Other cases have been recorded from South Lytchett,[2] near Poole, and Pencarrow in Cornwall.[3] (A.H.)
Distribution
This remarkable tree was discovered in or about 1780 by a Spaniard, Don Francisco Dendariarena, who was employed by the Spanish Government to examine the trees in the country of the Araucanos, with the object of finding out those whose timber was best suited for shipbuilding. His account of its discovery, as quoted by Lambert, pp. 106–108, is as follows:—
"In September 1782 I left my companion, Don Hippolito Ruiz, and visited the mountains named Caramavida and Nahuelbuta belonging to the Llanista, Peguen, and Araucano Indians. Amongst many plants which were the result of my two months' excursion, I found in flower and fruit the tree I am about to describe.
"The chain or cordillera of the Andes offers to the view in general a rocky soil, in parts wet and boggy, on account of the abundance of rain and snow which fall in these regions, similar to many provinces in Spain. There are to be seen large forests of this tree which rises to the amazing height of 150 feet, its trunk quite straight and without knots, ending in a pyramid formed of horizontal branches which decrease in length gradually towards the top, and is covered with a double bark, the
