ANTHOPHTTA. 249 



(Sequoia gigantea), and grows in a few valleys on the western slope 

 of the Sierra Nevada of central California. It attains a height of 

 more than 100 metres (300 feet) and a diameter of 6 to 10 metres (30 

 to 30 feet). The other species is the common Redwood (S. semper- 

 vlrens), confined to the Coast-Range mountains of California. It is 

 but little inferior to the preceding in size, and its wood is extensively 

 used for building and other purposes. 



In the southern hemisphere the Kauri pine (Agathis australis) of 

 New Zealand, the Norfolli Island pine (Araucaria excelsa) of the 

 South Pacific Ocean, and others represent a group of conifers closely 

 related to those which were abundant in ancient geological times. 



467. The Joint-firs (Order 38, Gnetaceje) include a 

 few undershrubs or small trees (about 36) mostly natives of 

 the warmer parts of the world. Their curious structure is 

 far too difficult to be taken up here. 



Systematic Literature. — Gray, Manual of Botany, 489-4 (6th 

 edition). Coulter, Manual of the Botany of the Rocky Mountain 

 Region, 438-433. Brewer, Watson, and Gray, Botany of California, 

 2 : 108-128. De CandoUe, Prodromus.. 16' : 345-547. 



Class 15. ANGiosPEEMa;. The An-giospeems. 



468. The plants of this class have, in most cases, more 

 or less elongated stems ; these are solid at first, and in the 

 great majority of cases they remain so. They usually bear 

 ample leaves, with parallel or netted veins. 



469. Their reproductive organs are mostly collected 

 into definite and distinct flowers, which often show great 

 beauty of form and color. The pollen-bearing leaves (sta- 

 mens) resemble those of the Gymnosperms, but the ovule- 

 bearing leaves (carpophylls) are folded into a closed vessel 

 (ovary). 



470. Most Angiosperms are terrestrial and chlorophyll- 

 bearing plants; there are, however, many aquatic and aerial 

 species and a considerable number of parasites. They 

 range, also, in size and duration, from minute annuals, 



