CHRISTMAS TREES 



317 



appearance (Fig. 36). The cones of the silver fir 

 (5 to 6 inches long and 2 inches thick) are set 

 upright on the branches, and when they have shed the 

 seeds the scales fall off rapidly and leave the axis bare, 



ovs. 



ovs 



ovs 



Fig. 36. — a, Structure of the female cone of the Silver Fir. A single 

 cone-scale, OVS, with its reflected and pointed "bract," br, seen 

 from the outer surface ; st, stalk. 



b, The same seen from the inner surface ; letters as before, and in addition 



OV, one of the pair of naked seeds ; W, its wing. 



c, The same in section, showing well the reflected or turned-over spine- 



like end of the bract ; letters as before. 



d, One of the winged seeds detached. 



whilst the cones of the spruce (about an inch shorter) 

 are pendulous (Fig. 3 7), and their scales remain in position 

 after the seed is shed. 



There are many " spruces," other species of the genus 

 Picea, from various parts of Europe, temperate Asia, 



