ITT. 1 CONIFERS. 299 



Observe, also, the different forms and the arrangement 

 of the leaves in Coniferae. In Fir, for example, there are 

 two forms of leaf, viz. small, brown, scaly leaves on the 

 main branches, the internodes of which lengthen out, and in 

 the action of each of these scaly leaves a single pair of, or 

 fascicles of three or five, long acicular leaves, sheathed at 

 the base by scale-leaves. The long acicular leaves are 

 borne upon axillary arrested branches. In Larch [Larix] 

 and Deodar {Cedriis) the acicular leaves are numerous, in 

 dense fascicles. The former species is well adapted to show 

 the true nature of these fascicles of leaves, some of which 

 lengthen out into branches during the summer. Indeed, the 

 fruit-cones occasionally lengthen out in this way into leaf- 

 bearing branches, illustrating the homology subsisting between 

 the bract-scales of the cone and the scale-leaves of the branch. 



The leaves of many species of Pine persist several years. 

 The Larch is deciduous. 



The Pine Family acquires high importance from the 

 number of species which it includes affording valuable 

 timber, and also from the resinous products obtained from 

 several of them. 



Differing very much in habit from the Type, and gene- 

 rally treated as a distinct Family, is the group Gnetacece^ 

 represented in India by species of Gnetum and Ephedra^ 

 the latter confined to the Himalaya. 



The Gnetums are climbing shrubs with jointed stems, 

 opposite, shining, entire leaves, and axillary spikes of 

 verticillate, monoecious flowers. The male flowers each 

 consist of a single stamen ; the female, of a naked 

 ovule, terminating above in a long, tubular prolongation 

 of its coat, resembling a style, and enclosed in an undi- 

 vided perianth. The fruit is an oblong drupe ; in at least 

 one species edible. 



