PISE TREE 



379 



Moots. — The roots of the pine vary according to the 

 kind of pine and according to the soil, but they are alwa 



extensive. 



Seed-producing Organs. — Early in the spring, two 



kinds of cones are found on the oew shoots which grow 

 from the terminal buds. 



One kind looks like 

 short catkins, and these 

 cones are borne in clus- 

 ters near the base of the 

 shoot. They consist of 

 scales arranged spirally 

 around the central axis. 

 Each scale bears two 

 pollen sacs. These are 

 the staminate cones 

 (Latin sta, stand) or 

 strobili. They wither 

 soon after shedding their 

 pollen, although they 

 may remain on the tree 

 for a year. The other 

 kind of cone is short and 

 thick, and is found at 

 the tip of the shoot or 



on the Side of the shoot The splendid trunk in the 



., .. r™ • • .1 is that of a cucumber tree. (Hugh 



near the tip. 1 his is the p Baker \ 

 carpellate cone (female 



strobilus), which is made up of scales arranged spirally 

 around a central axis. Bach scale near its base bears two 

 ovules. When the pollen is ripe, each grain, being pro- 

 vided with winjrlike air sacs, is easily blown about by the 

 wind. Some of the pollen sifts into the carpellate cone 

 through the spaces between the scales, which at this time 



Figure 411.-- A Virgin Forest of Mixed 

 Hard Woods and Conifers in North- 

 ern Pennsylvania. 



