FRUCTIFICATION. 



47 



the scales are arranged in decussate pairs and are attached to the axis in 

 a peltate manner (Cupressus) or coalesce with it at the base on the 

 ventral side (Thuia). In Euthuia the seed scale is approximately of the 

 same, thickness throughout ; in Cupressus and Thuia, section Biota, it is 

 much thickened at the apex ; in Libocedrus and Fitzroya it is thicker at 

 the base than at the apex, and in Juniperus the scales become fleshy and 

 by their coalescence form a berry-like fruit technically called a ijalbulus. 



The fruits of the Taxodineae (Sequoia, Cryptomeria, etc.) may be 

 regarded as intermediate between those of the Abietinese and Cupressinese, 

 combining the spiral arrangement of the scales of the former with much 

 of the structure of the latter. The cones of the Araucarineae closely 

 approach those of the Taxodinese in structural details, differing chiefly in 



the scales (except Cunninghamia) bearing 

 but a single seed and in the spheroidal 

 form of the whole fruit. 



The fruits or cones of the different 

 tribes, genera and species differ enormously 

 in size and weight. The galbuli of the 

 Savin Junipers are smaller than the 

 smallest of garden peas, whilst the cone 

 of the Moreton Bay Pine, Arauearia 

 Bidii-iUi, is almost as large as a man's 

 head. The small cones of Larix ameri- 

 cana do not much exceed half an inch 

 in length ; the cones of the Calif orniari 

 Sugar Pine, Pinus Lariibertiana, are often 

 two feet long. It takes several cones 

 of the common Hemlock Spruce to weigh 

 an ounce ; a single cone of Pinus 

 Coulter i weighs from four to five pounds 

 and occasionally more. It is a note- 

 worthy fact that nearly all the species 

 of Fir and Pine which bear the largest 

 cones inhabit the Sierras of Oregon and 

 California, and their continuation into 



Mexico, Aides nolriUs and A. magnifi(;a among the Firs, and Pinus 

 Lambert iana, P. Sabiniana, P. Coulteri and P. Aywaliuite among the 

 Pines. 



Although the cones of a great majority of the species are of a dull and 

 unattractive colour, there are some remarkable exceptions -the cones of 

 Abies Webbiana during the period of -growth are a deep violet-blue and 

 strikingly beautiful ; those of A. hoinolepis, A. Veitchii, Tswja Brunon- 

 iana and Larix Griffitliii are, under like circumstances, marked 

 ornaments of the trees that bear them 011 account of their colour. The 

 cones of Allies nobilis are bright pea-green during their progress towards 

 maturity which, with the symmetrically arranged scales with their 

 protruding bracts, renders them very beautiful objects. The ripe arils of 

 the common Yew are bright coral-red, in one variety orange-yellow, which 

 when produced in quantity impart to the tcees by contrast with the deep 

 green foliage a very ornamental appearance. 



The fruit of all the Taxads with very few exceptions,' 55 ' so far as 



* The fruits of the Bimu of Kew Zealand, Dacrydium cupressinum, require fifteen or 

 sixteen months to attain maturity. Kirk, Forest Fl. N. Zeal. 29. 



Fig. 31. Longitudinal section of a cone of 

 the Stone Pine, Pinus pi-nun, showing the 

 . relative positions of the axis, scales and seeds. 

 Two-thirds natural size. 



