Obdbk 127.— conifers 65fi 



Class II. GYMNOSPEKM^. 



Exogenous plants with chiefly parallel-veined leaves, always 

 diclinous, with the flowers very incomplete. Pistils none, or 

 represented by open scales. Ovules axillary or naked, fertilized 

 by the direct application of the pollen, becoming at maturity 

 naied seeds, destitute of a true pericarp. Cotyledons often 

 more than 2. This Class constitutes the 



CoHOET 4. CONOIDE^. 



Order CXXVII. CONIFERS. Conifers. 



IVees or shrubs mostly evergreen, abounding with a resinous juice. Leaves scat- 

 tered or fascicled, aoerous, linear or lanceolate, parallel-veined. Fldwers raonceoious 

 or dioecious, achlamydeous, in aments or cones. J Stamens 1, or several united. 

 9 Ovary, style and stigma wanting. Ovules 1 or several at the base of the car- 

 peUary scale. Fruit a strobile (cone), woody with the scales distinct, or baccate 

 with the scales fleshy and coherent. Illust. in Figs. 46, S. 87, 152, 153, 367, 449, 

 468, 579. 



Genera 20, species 110, natives of all climates, but most abundant in the temperate zones, 

 those of the southern, however, very different from tho pines, spruces, larches and cedars of the 

 northern. 



Properties, — Few orders can be named, which are of more importance to mankind, whether in 

 reference to their invaluable timber or their resinous secretions. Turpentine, tar, pitch and resin, 

 are the product of the pines. Burgundy pitch is yielded by Pinns sylvestris of Europe ; Vene- 

 tian turpentine, by the Larix ; oil of Savin by Juniperus Sabina of Europe, etc. In stature the 

 Coniferffl are the loftiest of all trees. Finns strobus, arises often 200f. Arancaria imbricata ot 

 OhlU 260f, and Sequoya gigantea of California 400f. 



SUBOEDBES AND QENTJEA. 

 I. ABXETINE^. ? Scales many, each subtended by a bract, with 2 inverted ovules 

 (their micropyle turned downwards) at the base inside. Seeds winged. (*) 



* Leaves evergreen, fasciculate in clusters of 2 to 5 Pintjs. 1 



* Leaves evergreen, separate, scattered , Abies. 2 



* Leaves deciduous, many in tho fascicles on short lateral branchlets Lasix. 8 



IL OUPEESSINE^. ? Scales few, braotless, each with 2 to 8 erect ovules. (*) 



* Flowers monoecious. Fruit a woody cone opening at maturity, (a) 



a Leaves evergreen, scale-like. Cone-scales oblong, loose, flattish, 2-ovuled Thuja. 4 



a Leaves evergreen, scale-like or subulate. Coue-scales peltate, angular CupussuB. B 



a Leaves deciduous, linear, 2-rowed. Cone-scales peltate, angular Taxodiom. 6 



* Flowers dicecious. Fruit a fleshy cone, tho scales consolidated, berry -like. .Junipekus. 7 



1. PrWUS, L. Pine. (Celtic pin or pen, a rock or crag ; from the 

 locality of many species.) Flowers monoecious. $ Aments clustered, 

 terminal ; stamens oo, with 2 cells and a scale-like connective ; pollen 

 grains triple. ? Aments conical or cylindric, the carpel! ary scales 

 bracted, each bearing on its base within 2 inverted ovules ; strobile com- 

 posed of the imbricated hardened scales which are often thickened or 

 awned at the tip; seeds nut-like, winged ; cotyledons 3 to 12, linear. — 

 Trees with evergreen, acerous Ivs. in fascicles of 2 to 5, each fascicle 

 subtended and invested by a membranous scale or leaf. (Fig. 152.) 



