DIV. n 



GYMNOSPERMAE 



597 



in a median position (c). After fertilisation a succulent parenchymatous growth 

 mainly of the basal portions of the sporophylls raises the seeds and presses them 

 together, without, however, obliterating the central space altogether. The three 

 carpels become completely coherent above the seeds, but the place of union is still 

 indicated by the scar at the apex of the ripe fruit. The succulence of the carpels 

 gives the fruit the appearance of a berry. Juniperus is the only genus of the 

 Cupressineae with such fruits ; the others, such as Cupressus, Thuja, Taxodium, 

 have cones, and bear the ovules on a slight outgrowth of the scale. 



Juniperus communis, Juniper, is a shrub or small tree distributed over the 

 northern hemisphere. J. Sabina, a prostrate shrub of the Alps and other moun- 



FIG. 589. Taxodium mexicanum in the churchyard of S. Maria de Tule at Oaxaka. 

 This giant tree is one of the oldest living. (From a photograph.) 



tains of central and southern Europe. The Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) in 

 the Mediterranean region. Species of Thuja are commonly grown as ornamental 

 trees. Taxodium distichum is a deciduous tree, forming extended swampy woods 

 on the north coast of the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Galveston. T. mexicanum 

 is evergreen and is widely distributed on the highlands of Mexico ; very large 

 specimens occur such as the giant tree of Tule, which at a height of 40 m. was 

 30 m. in circumference, and was estimated by VON HUMBOLDT to be 4000 years old 

 (Fig. 589). 



Sub-family Abietineae. The floral structure of the Abietineae may be described 

 in the first place. The male flowers (cf. p. 544) consist of an axis bearing 

 scale leaves at the base, and, above this, numerous stamens; the pollen -sacs 

 (microsporangia) are situated on the lower surface of the stamen. In the Abietineae 

 in the narrower sense there are two pollen-sacs, but in Agathis and Araucaria 



2Q1 



