massive cones 3-4 in. long : ovules protected 6 mm. below surface by the overlap 

 of 5-6 scales. 



Cones matured in November of 2nd year ; erected, ovoid, of 150-200 scales, with 

 flat or depressed top, 2~4i i"- by 2-| : Scale-facets 45 mm. by 5, tangenlially extended, 

 with minute apex, membranous margin, and edges divergent on drying. Normal 

 method not induced by desiccation ; but, soaked in autumnal rains, bud-scales separate 

 from the slender central axis, and fall away from above downwards ; sterile apex shed 

 in one piece, and seeds dispersed by wind, December : scales up to 2 in. across ; seeds 

 5 mm. long, wing 30 mm. long, 24 broad. Cotyledons 6-9-1 1 : germination normal, 

 seedling 9 inches in ist season. 



C. Deodara, the least xerophytic type, annual shoot a foot or more long ; longer 

 needles, 30-40 mm., in looser tufts, ascending 45°; leaders and laterals flexuous or 

 pendulous ; secondary laterals drooping, in the manner of Larix. Staminate 

 flower, Sept.-Dec, the largest in the Abietineae ; 2 in. in bud, elongating to 4 in. ; 

 stamens 800, pollen-sacs 5 mm., pollen winged, 90 /a over wings. Cones smooth, 

 3-5 in. by 2-3, with flat top. 



C. allanh'ca, spur-shoots longer, more copiously branched ; cones shorter, more 

 cylindrical, often with pointed apex. Main laterals long, ascending at 45°. 



II. LARIX (14). Forest-trees of N. Temp., Europe, Asia, N. Amer. : cf. 

 L. etiropaea, L. sibirica, L. aiyiericana, L. Griffjlhii (Himalya) : deciduous, in northern 

 forest, and essentially alpine : less xeromorphic in summer needles. Otherwise with the 

 habit of Cedrus ; depauperated in flowers and cones. 



Larix europaea (Larch), not indig. ; Mis. of Central Europe; 100-150 ft., 

 tD 3-5 ft. diam., pyramidal, with slender ramuli, pendulous in marked varieties. 



Annual shoot, leader 1-2 ft., needles (30 mm.) spirally arranged : T-bud with 

 slight crater-formation : no false whorls ; laterals as buds without rule in axils of 

 leaves of previous season, giving spurs in the second year; spurs carry 40 or 

 more foliage-needles each season, for several years, but do not elongate (i in.). Any 

 spur may grow to a semi-leader ; large numbers of these (more or less pendulous) are 

 characteristic. 



Staminate flower, 5-10 mm., terminating a spur without foliage, turned to 

 lower side of branch. Pollen spherical (not winged), 80 [x diam. 



Ovulate flower, crimson (or while) erected, \ inch, above young needles of 

 spur : numerous, often f inch apart ; bracts divergent, 9 mm. long, with pointed apex 

 and reflexed marginal lobes, 50 or more, about 30 fertile ; transitional to needles 

 below (and often above in 'proliferating cones'), functional in pollen-collection, 

 and so far distinct from Cedrus : cone-scale minute, i mm. ; growing in green cone 

 later. Pollinated April, fertilized June, matured in one season. 



Adult cone, ovoid, erected, 30-40 mm.; cone-scales (3 : 5) seriate; bract-scale 

 projecting 2-3 mm., and reflexed; scales thin, 10 mm. broad, with rounded margin: 

 seeds small (4 mm.), wing 10 mm. ; shed by divergence of scales in autumn and 

 spring : old cones persistent many years. Cotyledons 5-7 : first year's growth 4-6 

 inches: seedlings, juvenile needles (1-4 yrs.); vigorous growths from plants cut back 

 may retain ' evergreen ' habit. 



TIMBERS: Pmus-woods are readily distinguished by the presence of resin-ducts 

 (implying also fusiform rays) and large pits (i or more) on the radial walls of M.R.P. 

 All other Abietineae show sf?ia/l pits on M.R.P., and M.R.T. are generally present 

 with smooth lining wall. 



Larix, with very distinct reddish duramen, resin-ducts and fusiform rays : M.R.P. 

 with thickened and uneven transverse walls ; end-walls oblique and sHghtly pitted ; 

 small slit-pits ((/(-form) on radial walls, 4-6 per tracheide : M.R.T. present with 

 smooth walls. In Z. Griffithii the tracheides may occasionally present a slight 

 ' spiral thickening' and the M.R.T a slight 'jagging'. 



Cedrus : Duramen reddish : resin-ducts normally wanting {iraiimatic only) , 

 M.R.T. with smooth walls: M.R.P. with small slit-pits (slits 8 fx, and open as 

 ' double contour ' pits), 2-4 per tracheide : transverse walls much thickened and 

 pitted, end-walls prominently ' beaded '. C. Deodara, last details conspicuous, and 

 tracheide-pits with ' notched-torus' effect. INI. Rays relatively deep (to 50 cells). 



18 



