326 



DIVERSIONS OF A NATURALIST 



inches long and half that in breadth. In all the species 

 of Pinus the outer end of the scales which build up the 

 cone is swollen and squeezed compactly by its fellows, 

 forming a hard shield-like surface of a lozenge shape, in 

 the middle of which is a knob or process (see Figs. 3 I , 

 39, and 40). Usually this is short and not very sharp, but 

 in Pinus muricata the cone is very hard and solid and the 



FIG. 41. Female Cone of Pinus muricata, showing the long 

 sharp spines which stand up from the boss or umbo in 

 the centre of the swollen, woody, lozenge-shaped end or 

 "apex" of each seed-scale. Compare these with the 

 un-armed bosses in the centre of each lozenge building up 

 the surface of the cones drawn in Figs. 31, 39, and 40. 



knob is elongated into a spine of nearly one-third of an inch 

 long (Fig. 41). These spines are so hard and sharp that 

 they render it impossible to grasp the cone with the hand in 

 order to pluck it. The cones remain on the tree for fifteen 

 years or more, and may be seen in close-set clusters sur- 

 rounding quite old branches. The cones of Pinus rigida 

 one of the American pitch-pines are similarly protected 

 by spines. Pinus rigida is easily distinguished by its 



