14 TIIE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



and thus be enabled to trace any particular tree or plant 

 to a description in this Avork. 



The order is subdivided into three sub-orders, or sub- 

 families, which are, by some botanists, given the rank of 

 orders. 



The sub-order Abietince, or Pine sub-family, are all large 

 sized trees, growing mostly in a conical form, and having 

 large, spreading, roots, and horizontal branches with droop- 

 ing branchlets. The members of this group all have ev- 

 ergreen or persistent leaves, excepting the Larch, (Larix,} 

 with both sterile and fertile catkins, usually on the same 

 tree but on different branches. The cones, or strobiles, 

 Avhich form the main point in distinguishing the sub-or- 

 ders, are in this very much alike in structure, although 

 differing greatly in size and shape. Seeds, mostly edible, 

 resinous and oily, the embryo with from 2 to 12. cotyle- 

 dons. Buds, scaly. 



The sub-order, Cupressince, has, with few exceptions, 

 smaller sized trees or shrubs. They are all evergreen ex- 

 cept the Taxodiums and Glyptostrobus, with generally a 

 conical form, which, in many instances, approaches the fas- 

 tigiate. The cones of this group are smaller than those in 

 the foregoing, and are composed of dry scales, excepting 

 in the Junipers, which are drupe-like berries at maturity. 

 Buds, naked. 



The Third sub-order, Taxinece, or Yew sub-family, is 

 very distinct from the others, and is by many botanists 

 separated from the Coniferae. The species belonging to 

 this are about equally divided between the medium-sized 

 and smaller class of trees, and produce in fruit a naked 

 drupe, or, in some instances, a fleshy, drupe-like berry. 

 Buds, scaly. 



No known order of plants presents such a diversity of 

 size as that of the Coniferse. From the humble, trailing 

 shrub, it embraces trees of every size to the lordly /Sequoia 

 yigantea of 300 feet in height. Every shade and tint of 



