io8 



Trees, Stars, and Birds 



Conifers. Most of our evergreens produce cones and 

 hence are called conifers or cone bearers. The cone is 

 the fruit. The seeds are protected by the scales of the 

 cone but are not inclosed in an ovary. Pollen from 

 other flowers falls directly upon the ovules. The pollen 

 is produced in great abundance and is carried by the 

 wind. If the tree is surrounded by others of the same 

 species, its chance of receiving pollen for its many ovules 

 is greater. For this reason evergreen trees are not often 

 found scattered in small numbers over a large area. 

 You might travel a hundred miles without seeing a pine, 

 spruce, or hemlock, excepting such as have been planted, 



FIG. 68. Cones from six different evergreens: (I) Blue spruce, 

 (II) Norway spruce, (III) White spruce, (IV) Douglas fir, (V) Big 

 Tree, (VI) Austrian pine. 



