COSIFERJE. 213 



Kairz also adds for the Nicobars : 



G. siACHoroBUM, Kz. Tree forests of Kamorta. 



And Mason adds : 



G. SCANDEXS. 



G. Bkunosianuxi. 



Order COXIFERiE. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious in catkins. Bractn in males numerous, inserted 

 to the raeliis, more or less crowded, and imbricate iit the base, very often narrowed 

 into a stalk, peltate or half-peltate at the apex, sometimes produced on the back in 

 a resinous gland, bearing the anthers on the under-surface or laterally. Stamens 

 usually ru<luce(l to sessile anthers, or rarely \\"ith a short fihiment, by twos or more, 

 under each bract, the anthers arranged in a single or double row, 1 -celled, opening 

 by a longitudinal (rarely b^^ a transverse) slit. Bracts in females 4 or more, free, or 

 more or less connate, arranged in spirals decussately, or in whorls of 3 or 4 each, 

 the lower and uppermost ones sometimes sterile, membranous, cliartaceous, or 

 coriaceous, or (along with the rachis) fleshy. Involucre (in Taxineae) simple 

 or double, short or urceolatc, and inclosing the ovary. Ovaries 2 or more, rarely 

 solitary, usually collateral or superposed, more or less compressed, with a solitary 

 orthotropous orule. Sti/h short, or very short. Sfir/ma almost orbicular, often 

 more or less bifid. Fruit-cones either consisting of coriaceous or woody imbricate 

 or decussate scales, or of variously connate fleshy ones, and truly or spuriously 

 drupaceous. Nuts by twos, or more rarely solitary, usually shorter than the scales. 

 Pericarp usually bony, woody or membranous, often with 1 or 2 or 3 wings, rarely 

 wingless. Embryo (sometimes several embryos in the same seed) resting in the axis 

 of the oily-fleshy or mealy albumen, and almost as long. Cotyledi,ns 2, but often 

 deeply lobed so as to simulate 3 or 5 separate cotyledons. The radicle short, inferior 

 or superior. Trees or shrubs, usuallj' evergreens, abounding in resin, with usually 

 clustered or solitary linear, or more or less terete or angular, rarely broad leaves. 

 Catkins terminal, solitary or variously clustered, racemose or racemose-panicled. 



An order which is represented only by 5 species in Burma, but which is of the 

 highest importance to the forester, especially in temperate climates. Deal, fir, pine, 

 and cedar are all woods generally known, but the timber of most of the other species 

 is of equal value. Some of them attain an enormous height, like Sequoia semper- 

 virens and (jiyanfea, of California, whicli reach 330 and even 4o0 feet in height, 

 with a girth of 80-100 feet. Oil of turpentine, pitch, balsams, and resins are 

 yielded by trees of this family in great quantity. 



Prs'us, Linnaus. 



Flowers monoecious in catkins. Scales numerous, narrowed at the base or almost 

 stalked, the males bearing the 2 anthers on the under surface. Thu female scales 

 composed of a fleshy or coriaceous lepi<lium, and a thin bract, either distinct or adnato 

 to the base. Xuts in pairs, or solitaiy by abortiim, with a membranous or bony 

 pericarp, winged or wingless. Evergreen trees with linear or acieular leaves, solitaiy 

 or clustered by 2-5 and sheathed at the base. 



P. KvsvA, lloylc. Lushai Hills and Martaban Ilills at 



Tin.yu (Kurz). Generic. ^"'^O t" """» ^^'^t. 



Leaves by threes, operclc of scales not zonate. A stately tree growing to 200 

 feet in height according to Bmndis. Wood very resinous. 



P. Lattkiu, Mason. Salwcen and Thoung-yeen Valleys at 



P. Merkusii, .Tungh. 500 to 2500 feet. 



P. Massoniana, Lamb (apud Branilis). 



Leaves by pairs. Opercle zon.ate. 



Tliis ]iinc ajipears to have been first noticed and described by Dr. Mason, who 

 believed that " Capt. Latter was the first European to visit the locality W'herc the tree 





