CONIFEKJE 



287 



sometimes becoming berry-like (as in junipers). Above 300 species, 

 one-third of which inhabit North America: particularly abundant in 

 elevated and mountainous regions. 



A. Cone dry, with overlapping scales. 



B. Scales many and cones 1 in. or more long. 



c. Leaves long and needle-like, in sheaths or bundles of 



2 to 5, persistent 1. Pinus 



cc. Leaves short, scattered, persistent. 



D. In cross-section, Ivs. 4-sided : sessile 2. Picea 



DD. In cross-section, Ivs. flat: short-petioled 3. Tsuga 



ccc. Leaves short but very slender, in clusters, deciduous. 4. Larix 



BB. Scales few (3-12), the cones about y z in. long 5. Thuja 



AA. Cone modified into a fleshy, berry-like body 6. Juniperus 



1. PlNUS, PINE. 



Trees with long, persistent, needle-shaped, angled leaves, in bundles of 



2 to 5, and with scale-like deciduous leaves on the young branchlets : sterile 



catkins usually borne at the base of the 



new shoot : fertile cones maturing the 



second year, often hanging on the tree 



for years : cotyledons several. 



P. Strdbus, Linn. White pine. Figs. 



145, 272. Large forest tree, much used 



for lumber : leaves long and soft, light 



green, in 5's: cones long and symmetri- 

 cal, with thin-edged scales, terminal on 



the shoots and falling after shedding the 



seeds. Grows as far south as Georgia. 

 P. palustris, Mill. Long-leaved pine. 



Very tall tree, with nearly smooth bark : 



leaves very long and slender (usually a 



foot or more), clustered at the ends of 



the branches, in 3's: cones 6 in. or more long, the scales tipped with a short 

 curved spine. Lumber tree. Virginia, south. 

 P. rigida, Mill. Pitch pine. Fig. 421. 

 Medium sized or small tree with rough dark 

 bark : leaves short and stiff, usually in 3's : 

 cone 2 -3 in. long, conical, the scales with a 

 short spine. Grows as far south as Va. ; 

 common in pine barrens of the north Atlantic 

 coast. An eastern species. 



P. sylv6stris, Linn. Scotch pine. Fig. 422. 

 Medium-sized tree, with glaucous -green leaves 

 in 2's : cone short, the scales tipped with a 

 prickle or point. Europe; very commonly 

 422. Pinus sylvestris. planted. 



421. Pinus rigida. 

 Old open cone at the left. 



