356 



PLAiNT STUDIES 



2oG. Conifers. — Tliis is tlio great modern (iymnospcrm 

 group, ami is cliaractoristic of the temperate regions, where 

 it forms great forests. Some of the forms are widely dis- 

 tributed, as tlie great genus of pines {/'iiiti.'<) (Fig. 57), 

 while some ai-e now very much restricted, altliough for- 

 merly very widely distrib- 

 uted, as the gigantic red- 

 woods (iSegitoiii) of the 

 Pacific slope. The habit of 

 the body is quite charac- 

 teristic, a central shaft ex- 

 tending continuously to the 

 very top, while the lateral 

 branches spread horizontal- 

 ly, with diminishing length 

 to the top, forming a coni- 

 cal outline (Figs. 50, 57). 

 This habit of firs, pines, 

 etc., gives them an appear- 

 ance very distinct from that 

 of other trees. 



Anotlier peculiar feature 

 is furnished by the char- 

 acteristic " needle-leaves," 

 which seem to be jx'orly 

 adapted for foliage. These 

 leaves have small spread of 

 surface and very heavy pro- 

 tecting walls, and show adap- 

 tation for enduring hard 

 conditions (Kig. 308). As 

 they have no regular period of falling, the trees are always 

 clothed with them, and have btn-n catlcil " evergreens." 

 'i'hert! are some notable exce])tions to this, however, a,s in 

 the case of th(! eomnion larch or laniarack, whicii sheds its 

 leaves every season ( i''ig. 5(i). 



