so GYMNOSPERM^ 



in Angiosperms it is conveyed only as far as the stigma. After 

 pollination the carpels again close together, and the placental 

 scales become hard, green, and woody. Each cone gradually 

 bends over till it finally points downwards {c-F), and its closely- 

 set scales become brown in colour. Finally, the hard brown 

 scales separate at their tips, and allow the seeds to be set free. 

 The escape of the seeds does not take place till more than a year 

 after pollination ; a few seeds may escape in the October of the 

 year following pollination, but the majority (<rZ>) remain on the 

 tree till about two years subsequent to pollination, when the 

 woody carpels gape apart as they dry. The fruit of the Pine is a 

 cone of woody carpels. '. The ovule develops into a hard endo- 

 spermic seed (fig. 68), containing an embryo which possesses 

 a whorl of cotyledons {cot). Attached to the seed is a separ- 

 able wing (fig. 67 w), which is not really a part of the seed, 

 because it is formed by a layer of the scale. The wings act as 

 sails, through the aid of which the seeds are scattered by the 

 wind; the wind blows the seed, causes it to spin, and so 

 delays its journey to the soil. In addition, the cones drop off 

 and are blown along the ground, shedding at the same time 

 any seeds they may contain. 



As other members of the Coniferae we may quote the Larch 

 (which is deciduous), the Yew (the seed of which has a red 

 fleshy aril), and the various Cypresses, Cedars, and Monkey- 

 puzzles cultivated in gardens. 



