86 THE PLANT WORLD. 



of the previous seasons growth, and hang down during anthesis. The 

 anthers (Fig. 5.) are orange- red in color. The pollen is produced in 

 immense quantities. In the early spring the ground in an Oregon 

 forest is often completely covered by a layer of the whitish powder. 



The pistillate cones develop in lateral buds near the ends of the 

 twigs; usually one, sometimes two on the same twig. The tritid bracts 

 (Fig. 6.) which correspond to the true leaves in position, have in their 

 axils the ovule bearing scales. The ovules, (Fig. 6a.) two on each 

 scale, (cAs.) are placed with the micropyle near the axis, but directed in 

 such a mannei' as to be at the end of a trough made by the overlapping 

 bracts. The cones are upright during anthesis, (Fig. 4.) and the much 

 exserted bracts form a trap which catches the falling pollen. This 

 rolls down to the micro})yles of the ovules where it is caught by a drop 

 of secretion which, as it dries, draws the pollen down to the middle 

 part or nucellus of the ovule. After pollination has taken place the 

 cone becomes pendant and the scales develop very rapidly, so that the 

 discrepancy in size between bract and scale is quickly reduced, although 

 the bract always remains exserted, and is in this and in its trilid form 

 very characteristic of the genus. In the spruces proper the scale 

 outstrips the l)racts so that at maturity the bracts are hidden by the 

 scales. When ripe the cone is 9 inches long and 4.5 inches wide when 

 expanded, reddish brown in color, and occupies one season in coming 

 to maturity. The spreading of the scales allovYs the winged seeds 

 (Fig. 7) to escape after which the empty cones fall from the tree. The 

 seedlings, which develo}) in abundance on the forest floor, have usually 

 six cotyledons. 



When the tree is young, the bark is thin and smooth with a good 

 many resin ])Iisters. When of some age the bark gets to be quite thick 

 especially at the base of the tree. It is longitudinally Assured into 

 broad, rounded })lates of rather corky texture. The bark of medium 

 sized trees — that is, before a marked amount of thickening has taken 

 place — has a tannin content higher than that usually accurrino- in 

 tannin bearino- ])arks. Material collected by mvself at Forest Orove, 

 Oregon, and studied l)y the late Professor Trimble gave, when air dry, 

 15.25 per cent, for tanning purposes. 



The wx)od is very strong and elastic. When dry itis'^hardto work 

 on account of the great amount of "pitch'' or resin in the summer 

 wood. The difference in solidity between the spring and summer 

 wood is very marked, especially in trees which grow in the lowlands. 



