Abstract: Through the investigation, the authors find that the deformational ovuliferous-scale frequently occurs in the cultivated trees of Picea. The authors compare these deformed ovuliferous-scales, classify and arrange them into an aligment: a gradual transition from typical brief branch to normal ovuliferous-scale. On the typical brief branch-type ovuliferous-scale, there is an obvious axis, and several scales on the axis, and there is an ovule (or microsporange) on the outside of the scale. On the transitive ovuliferous-scale, the axis gradually reduces (but not disappears), shallow. The upper scales reduce to little or disappear, and the two lower side scales have gradually revolved about 90 °in the opposite direction. The retained scales are healed to normal as the scale or carp. The authors consider that the distortion perhaps is atavism. Perhaps these transitions reflect the developmental process of the ovuliferous-scale in history.

Key words: Picea