The Conifers 



The ginkgo is a narrow, tapering tree when young, very trim 

 and pretty, widening to pyramidal form with years. It grows 

 rapidly and has been planted as a street tree, notably in Wash- 

 ington, D. C. A serious drawback appears in the fruit, which is 

 a soft, plum-like, oily drupe with an unpleasant odour. While 

 they are dropping they keep sidewalks in a bad state, disgusting 

 people with the tree. The ginkgo has had a great vogue among 

 planters, though until recently none have been old enough to 

 bear fruit. 



The Chinese esteem the pits a great delicacy. They roast 

 the nuts as we do almonds and use them as a confection or an 

 appetiser at dinners and banquets. 



KEY TO THE GENERA 



A. Fruit a woody cone. 



B. Cone scales each in axil of a bract; seeds 2, inverted, 

 on each scale. 

 C. Foliage needle-like, fascicled. 



D. Cones requiring 2 to 3 years to mature; leaves 

 evergreen, i to 5 in papery basal sheath. 



Genus Pinus, The Pines 

 DD. Cones annual; leaves deciduous. 



Genus Larix, The Larches 

 CC. Foliage linear, solitary, scattered. 



D. Leaves flat, borne on short petioles ; cones pendant. 

 E. Twigs set with projecting leaf bases. 



Genus Tsuga, The Hemlocks 

 EE. Twigs smooth. 



Genus Pseudotsuga, The Douglas Spruce 

 DD. Leaves 4-angled, or flattened, without petioles. 

 E. Twigs rough; cones pendant. 



Genus Picea, The Spruces 

 EE. Twigs smooth; cones erect. 



Genus Abies, The Firs 

 BB. Cone scales without bracts. 



C. Leaves linear, alternate; cone scales many. 

 D. Seeds many under each scale; leaves evergreen. 



Genus Sequoia, The Sequoias 

 DD. Seeds 2 under each scale; leaves 2-ranked, decidu- 

 ous. Genus Taxodium, The Bald Cypress 

 CC. Leaves scale-like, usually of two forms; cones small. 

 D. Cones elongated, thin scaled, annual, with 2 seeds 

 under each scale. 

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