FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



211 



female trees, the flowers of which are fertilized by insects (largely bees). 

 The fruits, ripe in late spring as the leaves reach full size, are thin capsule- 

 like bodies, many of which are produced in long tassel-like clusters; the cap- 

 sules split open soon after maturity, liberating the minute seeds. The seeds 



Fig. 84. — Myrica californioa. 



are provided with long, exceedingly fine, silky hairs, which permit the wind to 

 carry them for very long distances. 



With some exceptions, they are moisture-loving trees and shrubs, wiiich ac- 

 counts for their prevalence along streams and bottoms. A remarkable charac- 



