SCOTCH FIR (PINE). 



359 



STRUCTURE OF THE CONE. 



The female flowers have a central axis. Round it are arranged, in 

 spiral order, overlapping vvoodv scales, closely pressed together. At 

 the base ol' each scale on its inner 

 surface are a pair of " naked 

 inverse ovules. Attached just below 

 each seed-bearing scale is an incon- 



sp 



icuous bract. 



THE BARK . 



The bark on the trunk is reddish 

 brown and scalv, on the branches 

 more yellow in tone : in the old 

 trees there is an outer layer of bark, 

 grey and deeply furrowed on the lower 

 part ot the trunk, which often becomes 

 stripped off in patches. The twigs 

 are fawn grey in colour ; the under 

 and less weather-beaten surface has a 

 glossy freshness which the upper side 

 lacks. The surface of the newly- 

 formed twigs is roughened by the 

 projections which mark the bases of 

 the leaves now fallen away ; on larger 

 twigs these projections appear only 

 as scars encircling them in spiral 

 lines. 



