96 FIBROUS BARK [CH. 



In some cases, however, the predominance of fibres in 

 the bark is so marked, that as it dries the latter shreds 

 out into more or less thread-like or tow-like masses 

 e.g. Cupressus, Taxus, Juniperus, Thuja, Biota, Lonicera 

 Xylosteum, &c. 



Fig. 46. British Oak (Quercus Robur) : fissured bark (Irv). 



The hardness of bark depends of course on the elements 

 included in it. Where little or nothing beyond thin walled 

 cork-cells are comprised, as is usual in all but old trees of 



