PINACEAE 15 



in the length of leaves and size and symmetry of cones- The wood is 

 hard and durable, valuable for construction purposes. The following 

 forms cannot always be distinguished from the type: 



Var. yunnanensis (Franchet) Shaw. 

 (P. yunnanensis Franchet) 



Has the largest leaf and the longest cone. 



Var. densata (Masters) Shaw. 

 (P. densata Masters). 



Oblique cone with swollen, prominent apophysis. 



The length of the needles and size of the cones vary according to 

 ecological factors, var. yunnanensis representing the species growing in 

 its optimum range. 



Pinus sinensis is characterized by short clustered staminate flowers and 

 by the persistent cones, changing in color from pale yellow to dark brown. 



' PICE A 



Evergreen trees usually with whorled, horizontal branches and thin 

 scaly bark. Leaves spirally arranged, linear, awl-shaped, usually 4 

 angled and with a white line on each of the 4 faces, or more or less 

 -flattened and then marked by white lines on the upper surface only, 

 attached to angular, persistent- woody leaf bases from which they are 

 deciduous upon drying. • Flowers monoecious, catkin-like; the staminate 

 red or yellow, composed of numerous spirally arranged anthers with 

 broad scale-like connectives; the pistillate greenish or purple composed 

 of numerous spirally arranged scales and bracts which are shorter than 

 the scales at maturity, each scale bearing 2 ovules on the inner surface 

 near the base. Fruit a pendent cone with persistent scales. Seeds 

 usually acute at Jihe base, winged. 



About 38 species are recognized ; probably not more than 1 or 12 

 well defined species occur in China. The spruces are widely distributed 

 over the colder temperate regions, often forming pure forests of some 

 extent. Picea is well characterized by the more or less 4 angled, acicular 

 leaves falling away upon drying, articulated to persistent woody bases, 

 ■ (sterigmata) and by pendent cones whose scales persist on the central axis 

 and spread open to liberate the seeds. In Abies the cones are erect, 



