THE PINE 



135 



the steins of . various smaller plants. The " berries " of 

 the juniper, which correspond to the ripe carpellate cones of 

 the pine, are used in medicine. 



160. Other Gymnosperms. Aside from the conifers, there are 

 comparatively few species of gymnosperms now living. The majority 



FIG. 79. A cycad (Cycas revoluta). 



of these belong to the tropical and subtropical order of cycads, repre- 

 sented in the United States by two species of Zamia which grow in 

 Florida. The cycads have a thick stem, at the top of which is a crown 

 of divided leaves very much like those of some ferns. In general ap- 

 pearance, the cycads are palm-like; some of them are called " sago 

 palms " because a coarse sago is obtained from their pith. However, 

 their similarity to the palms is misleading, for in many ways the cycads 

 show themselves to be related to the ferns ; and the fossil history of 

 the order is sufficiently complete so that their descent can be traced 



