644 CUPULIFERZ. [Fagus. 
Closely allied to 7’. Solandri, but much smaller, with the leaves truly ovate, 
broadest at the base, and usually acute at the tip. Wood very similar to that 
of F. Solandri. 
Orper LXXVIII. CONIFERAS, 
Resinous trees or shrubs, almost always evergreen. Leaves 
opposite or whorled or alternate, solitary or fascicled within mem- 
branous sheaths, rigid, subulate or linear or scale-like, rarely broad 
and flat. Flowers moncecious or dicecious; males usually solitary, 
catkin-like, deciduous; females often cone-like. Perianth always 
wanting in both sexes. Male flowers reduced to the stamens only, 
which are usually numerous; filaments connate into an oblong or 
cylindrical central axis (staminal column); anthers placed around 
the axis, stipitate or sessile; cells 2 or more, either adnate to the 
back of the connective, or pendulous from its scale-like or peltate 
summit. Female flowers of one or more erect or reversed naked 
ovules, without ovary style or stigma, sessile on a scale (open car- 
pellary leaf or carpidium) which is free or adnate to a bract; scales 
rarely solitary, usually several or many, in the latter case forming:a 
cone or head. Fruit composed of the enlarged hardened or succu- 
lent scales or bracts, between which the seeds are hidden ; or the 
mature seed may be exserted beyond the unchanged or fleshy scales 
or bracts. Seeds winged or wingless ; testa thick or thin, membran- 
ous or crustaceous or fleshy ; albumen copious, fleshy or farinaceous ; 
embryo straight, axile, cotyledons 2 or more, radicle terete. 
A large and important order, almost worldwide in its distribution, but most 
abundant in the temperate part of the Northern Hemisphere; rare in the tropics, 
except on high mountains ; fairly well represented in the south temperate zone, 
Genera 33; species about 350. Many of the species yield valuable timber. 
Pines, firs, larches, cedars, cypresses in the Northern Hemisphere ; the kauri, 
totara, rimu, Huon pine, &c., in the Southern, are well-known timber-trees, of 
great economic and commercial value. The mammoth tree of California 
(Sequoia gigantea) is probably the largest known tree. One has been measured 
400 ft. high, with a trunk 116 ft. in circumference. The resinous products of the 
order are also of great importance. The most valuable are tar, turpentine, pitch, 
and kauri-gum. The 5 genera found in New Zealand are all widely distributed 
in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of them (Podocarpus) advances as far 
north as China and Japan. 
A. Female flowers cone-like. Seeds concealed by the overlapping scales of the 
cone. 
Leaves large, flat, oblong. Cones large, 2-3in. diam. ; 
scales and seeds many os ae i .. 1. AGATHIs. 
Leaves small, scale-like. Cones small; scales 4-6; seeds 
2-4 me ae ay ae ans .. 2. LiBocEDRUS. 
B. Female flowers not cone-like. Seed nut-like, exserted beyond the unchanged 
or enlarged and fleshy scales. 
Leaves small, linear and flat or scale-like. Peduncle of 
fruit, together with the bracts, usually fleshy and en- 
larged. Ovule reversed oe oc A 3. PoDOCARPUS. 
