massive cones 3-4 in. long : ovules protected 6 mm. below surface by the overlap 

 of 5-6 scales. 



Cones matured in November of 2nd year ; erected, ovoid, of 150-200 scales, with 

 flat or depressed top, 3-4^ in. by 2-| : Scale-facets 45 mm. by 5, tangentially extended, 

 with minute apex, membranous margin, and edges divergent on drying. Normal 

 method not induced by desiccation ; but, soaked in autumnal rains, bud-scales separate 

 from the slender central axis, and fall away from above downwards ; sterile apex shed 

 in one piece, and seeds dispersed by wind, December : scales up to 2 in. across ; seeds 

 5 mm. long, wing 30 mm. long, 24 broad. Cotyledons 6-9-1 1 : germination normal, 

 seedling 9 inches in 1st season. 



C. Deodara, the least xerophytic type, annual shoot a foot or more long ; longer 

 needles, 30-40 mm., in looser tufts, ascending 45 ; leaders and laterals flexuous or 

 pendulous; secondary laterals drooping, in the manner of Larix. Staminate 

 flower, Sept.-Dec, the largest in the Abietineae ; 2 in. in bud, elongating to 4 in. ; 

 stamens 800, pollen-sacs 5 mm., pollen winged, 90 /x over wings. Cones smooth, 

 3-5 in. by 2-3, with flat top. 



C. atlantica, spur-shoots longer, more copiously branched ; cones shorter, more 

 cylindrical, often with pointed apex. Main laterals long, ascending at 45 . 



II. LARIX (14). Forest-trees of N. Temp., Europe, Asia, N. Amer. : cf. 

 L, europaea, L. sibirica, L. americana, L. Griffithii (Himalya) : deciduous, in northern 

 forest, and essentially alpine : less xeromorphic in summer needles. Otherwise with the 

 habit of Cedrus ; depauperated in flowers and cones. 



Larix europaea (Larch), not indig. ; Mts. of Central Europe; 100-150 ft., 

 to 3-5 ft. diam., pyramidal, with slender ramuli, pendulous in marked varieties. 



Annual shoot, leader 1-2 ft., needles (30 mm.) spirally arranged : T-bud with 

 slight crater-formation : no false whorls ; laterals as buds without rule in axils of 

 leaves of previous season, giving spurs in the second year; spurs carry 40 or 

 more foliage-needles each season, for several years, but do not elongate (-| in.). Any 

 spur may grow to a semi-leader ; large numbers of these (more or less pendulous) are 

 characteristic. 



Staminate flower, 5-10 mm., terminating a spur without foliage, turned to 

 lower side of branch. Pollen spherical (not winged), 80 /x diam. 



Ovulate flower, crimson (or white) erected, \ inch, above young needles of 

 spur : numerous, often f inch apart ; bracts divergent, 9 mm. long, with pointed apex 

 and reflexed marginal lobes, 50 or more, about 30 fertile ; transitional to needles 

 below (and often above in ' proliferating cones '), functional in pollen-collection, 

 and so far distinct from Cedrus : cone-scale minute, 1 mm. ; growing in green cone 

 later. Pollinated April, fertilized June, matured in one season. 



Adult cone, ovoid, erected, 30-40 mm. ; cone-scales (3 : 5) seriate ; bract-scale 

 projecting 2-3 mm., and reflexed; scales thin, 10 mm. broad, with rounded margin: 

 seeds small (4 mm.), wing 10 mm. ; shed by divergence of scales in autumn and 

 spring : old cones persistent many years. Cotyledons 5-7 : first year's growth 4-6 

 inches : seedlings, juvenile needles (1-4 yrs.) ; vigorous growths from plants cut back 

 may retain ' evergreen ' habit. 



TIMBERS : Pmus-woods are readily distinguished by the presence of resin-ducts 

 (implying also fusiform rays) and large pits (1 or more) on the radial walls of M.R.P. 

 All other Abietineae show small pits on M.R.P., and M.R.T. are generally present 

 with smooth lining wall. 



Larix, with very distinct reddish duramen, resin-ducts and fusiform rays : M.R.P. 

 with thickened and uneven transverse walls ; end-walls oblique and slightly pitted ; 

 small slit-pits (</>-form) on radial walls, 4-6 per tracheide : M.R.T. present with 

 smooth walls. In L. Griffithii the tracheides may occasionally present a slight 

 ' spiral thickening' and the M.R.T a slight 'jagging'. 



Cedrus : Duramen reddish : resin-ducts normally wanting {traumatic only) , 

 M.R.T. with smooth walls : M.R.P. with small slit-pits (slits 8 ll, and open as 

 ' double contour ' pits), 2-4 per tracheide : transverse walls much thickened and 

 pitted, end-walls prominently ' beaded '. C. Deodara, last details conspicuous, and 

 tracheide-pits with ' notched-torus ' effect. M. Rays relatively deep (to 50 cells). 



18 



