a Needles \\iih narrowed stalk-like bast', needle-sears 

 small ami elliptical across tlie branchlets; mature cones 

 hanging or pendulous. 1'eathered with three-pointed, 

 projecting bracts, the scales persistent. 



::. (Ji nils I'xi-mlntxitiitt Tin- hou.iilas Firs. 



Needles not much narrowed at the base, sears quite 

 large, circular in outline: mature cones erect, green, 

 dark purple or blackish, the scales falling separately 

 fr< >ni the axis. 



C.i-iius Ahirn Tlif Malsani Firs. 



II. Foliage la\es a u 1-sha ped or scale-shaped, in the latter case entirely 

 covering the twigs; fruit berry-like, more or less juicy; seeds hard 

 and bony, without a thin wing. 



7,. (J.'inis .1, ',,;/> r.x The .Junipers jiinl CVdars. 



i. <;I:M s /'/////* TIII: PINKS. 



The pint's form the most important group among the lumber produc- 

 ing trees. As indicated in the key, they are most easily recogni/ed among 

 the other members of the Cnnifi rd< by ha\ ing their needles in bundles of 

 to Ihe with a short sheath at the base. This sheath is composed of 

 a number of thin, translucent scales attached to a very short stem. This 

 littb- stem represents a very short branch which bears the bundle of 

 needles at its apex. This can be easily seen by pulling one of the 

 bundles of needles from a twig of a pine tree when the little stem, 

 together with the sheath, comes off with it. Kach of these little branches, 

 moreover, grows in the angle or axil of a small bract or scale-like leal' 

 on the twig, which is the normal place for a branch to stand. The 

 nes of staminate (lowers grow in crowded clusters around the base 

 ew growth of the season and after they have dried up and fallen 

 hey leave a bare space on this part of the branch. The pistillate 

 ones occur singly or in whorls of two to three around the base 

 present season's growth. They are small and inconspicuous at 

 d are easily overlooked. After the blossoming period, they de- 

 very slowly and ha\e only about doubled in size by the end of the 

 I'urin:,' the second spring, however, they grow rapidly and 

 sixe i y midsummer, although they retain their green color until 

 . Toward the close of autumn the color has changed to a 

 nd the cone scales begin to dry and spread apart. The 

 are now mature, loosen and begin to drop out. the wind 

 for many rods from the parent tree. It is possible in some 

 ns oi three different ages upon the same twig: first those 

 wering stage, second those which are maturing the seeds, 

 v, hicli ha\e lost their seeds but still cling to the branch. 

 of all the pines are thick, hard and woody and in some 

 ipped with a sharp, curved prickle or spine. Two seeds are 

 at the base of each scale. The wing of the seed is not 

 the seed, hut is derived from the upper part of the scale 



