234 STRUCTURAL BOTANY 



only a very small proportion of the axillary buds are 

 ever developed. 



The root-system consists entirely of the tap-root 

 and its numerous ramifications. Both stem and root, 

 like those of Dicotyledons, grow in thickness from 

 year to year. Hence the main stem and its branches 

 have a somewhat conical form, for they are thickest 

 at the base and taper gradually towards the apex. 

 The older parts of the stem are covered by a scaly 

 bark, which peels off in thin flakes. 



The tree is evergreen that is, it does not shed all its 

 leaves in any one season ; the same leaves remain upon 

 it for about three years, but they are changed gradually 

 at all times of the year, so that the tree is never bare. 



The young shoots, which will expand in the following 

 year, pass the winter in the form of buds, which are 

 enclosed within the bud-scales; these are modified leaves 

 of a light brown colour, and thin membranous texture. 



The Spruce, like most, though not all of its allies, is 

 monoecious* i.e. the flowers are of distinct sexes but are 

 both borne on the same plant. They are extremely 

 different from any flowers which we have considered 

 hitherto, and indeed bear little resemblance to the 

 flowers of any of the Angiosperms. One peculiarity 

 which is common to the flowers of both sexes, is that 

 the floral axis is elongated and bears spirally-arranged 

 leaves, so far resembling an ordinary vegetative 

 branch ; this form of flower is called a cone, whereas in 

 typical angiospermous flowers the axis is shortened, 



1 A flower, like that of the Wallflower or Lily, which contains both 

 stamens and pistil, is called hermaphrodite. 



