CONIFERALES 255 



spur shoots, and needle leaves are borne singly on long shoots (fig. 

 260) . In Pinus, in the seedling, needles are borne singly on the shoot ; 

 but, in later stages, only scale leaves are borne on the long shoot, 

 all foliage leaves being borne on spurs (fig. 261; see also fig. 265). 



Fig. 259. — Leaves of gymnosperms : large leaves; A, Agathis robtista; B, Arancaria 

 bidwilli; the small leaves, between the two groups of larger leaves, are the persistent 

 leaves (hardly to be called bud scales) which protected the bud; C, Podocarptis coriacea; 

 all about one-half natural size. 



The needle leaves of Pinus palustris are the longest leaves in living 

 Coniferophytes, reaching a length of 40 cm. The number of leaves on 

 a spur is a valuable taxonomic character. Pinus monophylla has 

 only one leaf on a spur, but two and three are the most usual num- 

 bers in the genus. Pinus quadrifolia has four; P. strobus and a few 



